Audio bit depth observation

[Nowhk]

I think I got the whole thing about it, but I'd like to have a proof of a dubt I have.

As wiki says, "The bit depth has no impact on the frequency response, which is constrained by the sample rate."

So, let's take a signal processed at 32bit, which contain a X set of partials.

Does it means that if I lower the bit depth I'll always got the same X set of partials + noise? Or I could get that X set of partials without some partial on it + noise?
In few words: could I lost partials in the signal just lowering bit depth?

[Scott]

Nowhk wrote:Does it mean ... always got the sam...

[m.letcher]

At 16 bit or above, the effect is almost always...

[Nowhk]

Scott wrote:Yes this ^^^ + noise = without dith...

[Nowhk]

To be more clear, look at this picture: quanti...

[Scott]

Nowhk wrote:Thinking to a more complex signal: ...

[Nowhk]

So the set of partials are not related in betwe...

[Nowhk]

@Scott: instead, with compression, I can lose p...