Hummm, I can hear a difference between 16 bit and 24 bit at a sample rate of 41 KHz, (CDs are encoded at 16 Bit).

Record companies have been promising for years to go up to 24bit and never have, just like they have been promising that the price of CDs will come down as more places make them.

Well now they have !!! Tee Heee !

As for mp3s well, they are better than taping songs off the radio or the TV which is what I used to do as a kid !