A: No, they were analog tape (infinite bit depth). 24/96 is simply the digital container large enough to hold the analog signal without degradation.

For the newcomer, searching for this will lead you down a rabbit hole of private trackers, Soulseek rooms, and Reddit threads in r/riprequests. It is frustrating, obtuse, and geeky.

A: "Verified" includes a cryptographic checksum proving the file hasn't been altered. "Unverified" might be a transcode.

The Beatles’ recordings (1962-1970) were laid down on four-track and eight-track analog tape. They were mixed for the vinyl cutting lathe of the 60s. The original UK mono and stereo mixes have dynamic swings that modern compressed remasters (like the 2009 or 2015 reissues) often flatten.

A: Yes. Your iPhone dongle won't do it. You need a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) capable of 24/96, such as a DragonFly Cobalt, Schiit Modi, or even a modern AV receiver.