It would take highly dynamic music to really hear more bits. The quiet passages is where it makes the difference. Most music is compressed beyond the need for a

It would take highly dynamic music to really hear more bits. The quiet passages is where it makes the difference. Most music is compressed beyond the need for anything other than 40db of dynamic range. I barely can tell the difference between high sample rate 8 or 12 bit audio and 16 bit audio. In some circles I hear people talk about that "gritty" 12 bit sound, but its usually not properly dithered, heavily filtered, 20khz or less sample rate and generally destroyed on purpose. Audio is generally the best arena for snake oil since subjectivity is so high. I cannot believe that Focal Grande Utopia EM loudspeakers(180,000 usd MSRP) exist in quantity, but I know two people who own a set in their (comparatively) modest living room. I have heard them in action, they sound great, but Im not sure that I heard anything in any of the music that I hadnt heard with good headphones or speakers. At what point is it "good enough"? I own plenty of recordings that no amount of hifi audiophilia will help.(many that I recorded myself ;) )