Digital BW, The Print

Does anyone have any idea from practical experience if it makes any 
difference at all if I send a 16 bit greyscale file over to the 9600 through QTR 
rather than the 8 bit greyscale file?  I usually scan and set up everthing in 16 
bit then print out 8 bit. It is slow enough as it is and I don't want it any slower 
for these larger size prints I have to do tomorrow unless it is a sure thing 
super-ultra-pro-giclee improvement.

John