Here is another test (one of dozens that keep popping into my head).

Take a 16bit piece of music in a wave file.

Convert it to 24bit.

Now stick garbage in the lower 8bits (maybe a nasty modest freq square wave (say a buzz as 440hz)).

Now play it. Bet you'll hardly hear the garbage. Because it's SO insignificant.

Let's say you do hear the garbage.

Now repeat the process and stick garbage in the lower 7bits.

Do you hear that?

Repeat doing less and less bits until you don't hear the garbage.

That's how "Effectively" how many bits you are HEARING.

And I guarantee you will stop hearing anything, long before you reach putting garbage in the least significant bit.

The offset Meridian applies pushes what is audible down into inaudible by a MINIMUM of 3dB.

- Fiddler (IMHO)

If you think listening to music is fun, try learning an instrument.
HT: G61RSL, 4x5K, 5.5KHC, 2xSC6000, Transporter, HD621, Philips BDP7501 4K, Tivo, 65" LG OLED 4K C6
Computer: Foobar2000, 5K, Mojo, HiFiMan HE1000 V2