Not a scientific response to your post but perhaps relevant - I own both the Redbook and SACD versions of Keith Jarrett's Sunbear concerts and the difference between them through the same DAC, system etc is easily apparent. Also, downsampling 24/96 downloaded flacs to Redbook and burning them to cd gives again a readily apparent difference when compared to the commercially bought Redbook version, again on the same system etc.
Perhaps if I had a newer/better/more expensive DAC in my signal chain the differences may not be as striking?
Perhaps if I had a newer/better/more expensive DAC in my signal chain the differences may not be as striking?