I bought some 30th anniversary King Crimson cds that have 24 bit remastering and some japanese mini lps that have k2 24bit remastering. First problem: when I play them with foobar the bit depth reads 16 instead of 24. Furthermore, I can't convert them to flac 24 bit depth files. I've tried changing the highest BPS mode supported to 24 but it changes nothing. Are these cds actually 16bit or is there something wrong with foobar?

The CDs are definitely 16bit.

I'm not sure exactly what 24bit remastering means, but I think it probably means that it was 24bit just before the master tapes were transfered to the master CD.

If they are normal CDs and not some odd non-conforming format, they are surely 16 bit. Now, if they have an SACD layer or something, then they can be 24bit with the correct player. But, so far, unless someone here knows a secret I would love to know, SACD can not be ripped.

SACD is 1bit, not 24bit.

That's right, or more precisely, SACD's DSD layer.

Wow...sweet. There I was thinking I knew something!
...if you don't mind me asking (in a way, hijacking the thread but not entirely!), what does it mean for it to be 1bit? Or rather, what is the benefit? I always thought SACD was 24 bit since the albums I have in the format claimed this.... Is 1 bit a state of flexibility?

There is a lot of information on SACD already.

When I get more time, I guess I'll search for the answer to my question, then. It's obviously hidden out there somewhere.

OK....found it rather quickly with a search, "SACD 1 bit"
http://www.canadapromedia.com/Articles/sacd/sacd.htm

So, SACD can be 1 bit (DSD only) OR 24 bit. This means, if my skimming the article didn't cause some misinterpretations, that I was not entirely incorrect.

No. Still not 24bit.

> Using single stage FIR digital filtering and noise shaping, 1-bit DSD can be down-converted into standard 24, 20 or even 16-bit PCM audio for CD distribution while still retaining the maximum possible audio quality.

*Anything* can be converted into 24, 20 or even 16-bit PCM audio for CD distribution.


Read: CD is good enough for all uses, even SACD audio.

Regarding the OP's question, Redbook, Audio-CDs are always 16 bit/44100Hz sources. Converting to 24 bits will be a lossy process; I doubt you'd hear a difference, in any case.

Alright, I think I get it. If some album is claimed to be 24 bit, that would mean the original was in 24 bit. However, when putting it in SACD format, it will need to be converted to DSD making it 1 bit, technically, correct? So yes, I was wrong from the start. Sorry for pretty much hijacking the thread. Thank you for letting me know a little more about this interesting format.