CDquality

CD quality refers to audio that conforms to the Red Book standard used for audio CDs. It denotes uncompressed PCM audio with a 44.1 kHz sample rate, 16-bit depth, and two channels (stereo). The term is commonly used to distinguish this baseline quality from lower-resolution formats, lossy compression, or higher-resolution but not CD-native files.

Technical characteristics of CD quality include a 44.1 kHz sample rate, 16-bit word length, and stereo PCM encoding. This combination yields a theoretical dynamic range of about 96 dB and a frequency range up to 22.05 kHz. CD audio is typically stored as uncompressed PCM data on CDs or in WAV/AIFF files that mirror these specifications.

Originating with the Sony and Philips-developed Red Book standard in the early 1980s, CD quality became a widely recognized baseline for digital music. The phrase is used in contexts ranging from physical CDs to digital downloads and streaming to indicate that the content matches the conventional CD sound characteristics rather than compressed formats.

In modern use, “CD quality” can describe files or streams delivered at 44.1 kHz and 16-bit, including lossless formats that preserve the same Resolution and dynamic range. Some services also label tracks as “CD-quality” when they are mastered to conventional consumer playback levels. Critics note that perceived quality depends on mastering, loudness normalization, and playback equipment, and that higher-resolution formats (such as 24-bit or higher sample rates) are not part of the original CD standard.