Higher sample rates and bit depths found on Headphone Dust MKV releases preserve the dynamic range and "air" of the original master recording.
Standard CD's are 16-bit / 44.1kHz. Headphone Dust releases are 24-bit / 96kHz. Here is what those numbers actually do for your ears:
-
24-bit (Dynamic Range): Bit depth is like the "height" of the sound wave. 16-bit has a range of 96dB, but 24-bit pushes that to 144dB. This allows for a much lower "noise floor"—meaning you can hear the tiniest whispers and the natural decay of a reverb tail without digital hiss.
-
96kHz (Sample Rate): Sample rate is how many "snapshots" are taken of the music per second. 96kHz captures frequencies up to 48kHz (well beyond human hearing). While you can't "hear" 30kHz, these higher frequencies affect the timing and phase of the frequencies you can hear, leading to a more natural, "airy" soundstage.