What sampling rate would typically be used for CD audio?

The sampling rate typically used for CD audio is 44.1 kHz. This rate was established to efficiently capture the full audio frequency range that humans can hear, which is approximately up to 20 kHz. According to the Nyquist theorem, the sampling rate must be at least twice the highest frequency you want to reproduce; thus, 44.1 kHz allows for accurate reproduction while also providing a margin above the necessary minimum.

Using 44.1 kHz ensures that the audio fidelity is maintained for recordings and playback on CDs, making it a standard in the music industry. This rate produces a good balance between audio quality and file size, which is crucial given the limitations of storage on CDs.

Other sampling rates like 22 kHz, 16 kHz, and 96 kHz are either lower than ideal for high-fidelity audio (as in the case of 22 kHz and 16 kHz) or unnecessarily high for standard CD audio (as with 96 kHz), which would typically be used for professional audio recording and not for CDs. Therefore, 44.1 kHz is uniquely appropriate for standard audio CDs.