What is the story with 24 bit masters 24/96 .

Lake513: This whole thing is pretty confusing, so don't feel alone. As I understand it, you need a transport that can read a 24/96 disc (a DVD player will do that; there are also some high-end transports out there, but probably not worth getting unless they can read the new DVD-Audio discs) and that will output a 24/96 digital signal from its digital output (not all DVD players will do that--check past threads on this--most early Pioneer players can do this, as does my Marantz DV-18 and some of the new Sonys, I believe) and 24/96 DADs, which I think have only been made available by Classic Records and Chesky so far. These are NOT DVD-A (Audio) discs I'm talking about, which are just starting to be released but are not currently able to have a 24/96 signal output in the digital domain (for those you'll need a DVD-A player, and right now you couldn't use your CAL to decode the 24/96 digital signal, you'd have to use the player's own internal DAC to get a 24/96 signal). Eventually, if the marketplace demands it and the recording companies break down and allow DVD-A discs to have their 24/96 signal output in the digital domain, you could use your CAL to decode those signals. For now, it can decode the few DADs out there and, if you have an upsampler, the CAL can help you get what some of us believe is better sound out of regular CDs. I think I've got this right, but feel free to correct me.

I am still in the dark with all this 24/96 bit stuff. I had My cal alpha upgraded to be 24 bit 96 khz do I need a dvd with a digital output to take advantage of this or what? I would also like to know who makes a dvd or other player that has a digital output to use with My alpha d/a any help would be nice thanks

I don't believe the true 24/96 discs from Chesky can be read by a CD player; my Classic DADs can't be read by a CD player, only a DVD player. There's a difference between a 24/96 RECORDING, which can be downsampled to 16/44 redbook CD standard, and a 24 bit/96khz DISC, which needs a DVD laser and 24 bit DAC to be decoded.

What about 24/96 disks Chesky? These are quoted as being 24/96 but maybe they are downsampled to only 16/44 also?

CDs can only store 16/44 because of the PCM format. If you want to test your DAC at higher hz, you can play some DVDs and the DAC will show more than 44khz.

They have been remastered at the higher bit rate but are still standard PCM. The 24/96 re-issues are generally quite a bit better sounding but DAC's do not see them as more than 16 bit. It is just like the CD's that you have that are recorded at 20 bit, just better sound.

The final product is converted down to standard CD redbook; no CD only player I'm aware of can read and play back a 24/96 disc. I think what they've done is use 24/96 technology to get as much of the analog masters into the digital domain as they can (as Classic Records has done with its 24/96 DADs), then downsample to 16/44 standard. Reports are this sounds better than converting the analog to 16/44 in the first place, but I haven't heard the end results, and who knows if it isn't just better A/D converters being used now than in the past? Wish they'd release 24/96 DADs like Classic Records from those masters; those I'd buy.