They may have the time and budget to issue LPs from analog tapes but smaller labels often cut corners when they can't afford the engineering and record-pressing expenses of using tape.ĬDs experience no physical degradation from repeated playings, as the laser read mechanism does not physically wear down the surface. Major labels claim they use original analog masters. So the new vinyl LP is sometimes inferior to what a consumer hears on a CD. These digital files are often loud and harsh-sounding, optimized for ear-buds, not living rooms. But the majority of today's new and re-issued vinyl albums-around 80% or more, several experts estimate-start from digital files, even lower-quality CDs. Old LPs were cut from analog tapes-that's why they sound so high quality. Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Neil Shah reported in his article Why Vinyl's Boom is Over that The conversion of analog to digital audio explained, in a nutshell by Mr. The stereo channels are split to separate sides of the groove. A vinyl disc’s capacity is determined by the diameter and playback speed (larger discs and slower playback means more capacity). The standard vinyl album is the 12-inch 33 rpm LP, 7-inch 33 rpm EP, and 7-inch 45 rpm single. Vinyl is an analog storage medium, which means there is a physical record of the music imprinted on the vinyl disc, read by a sensitive needle called a stylus. The data is read by a laser, and then decoded to produce audio playback. The standard CD format is a 2-channel, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz setup. NPR tries to settle this eternal debate with the help of two audio experts through Why Vinyl Sounds Better Than CD, Or Not, a discussion on the science of audio, and how perceptions can shape the experience of sound.ĬDs are a digital music storage medium, meaning the music is encoded as binary data. While purists and retro aficionados will insist vinyl sounds purer and better, their progressive counterparts believe in the accuracy of technology. The war between analog and digital sound will continue among audiophiles. However, the subjective claim of an overall “better” sound certainly remains among many enthusiasts and professional musicians. The technical arguments for this usually center on the inherent jaggedness of digital sampling, despite the fact that high sample rates combined with anti-aliasing (smoothing of the edges) technically negates this argument. Vinyl, undeniably prone to physical interference and noise, has a growing reputation for a warmer, more life-like sound. Just like a million little square pixels can never make a perfect curve in a picture if you look closely enough. The arguments against digital audio come from the fact that no matter how precise the sampling (~44,000 times per second is standard), the breaking down of music into binary data can never match the smooth and continuous nature of analog vinyl. there is less interference from hissing, turntable rumble, etc.), better stereo channel separation, and have no variation in playback speed. CDs have a better signal-to-noise ratio (i.e. Philips and Sony collaboration available in 1982 to consumers.Ĭompeting formats until 12-inch 33 rpm LPs became standard in the 1940s.įrom a technical standpoint, digital CD audio quality is clearly superior to vinyl. Warmth, reproduction of analog recordings, nostalgia.ĭegradation, fragility, surface noise, tracking error. Portability, digital playback control, lifespan, amateur friendly. More sensitive to heat, humidity, dust and scratching. More resistant to heat and humidity, but still vulnerable to scratching. Vinyl disc pressed with continuous spiral groove, from edge to center. Plastic disc encoded with small pits beneath thin layer of reflective aluminum. A CD is a Varying sized disk that is able to hold nano-sized digits formatted as digital files.Ī vinyl record (aka gramophone record) is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat polyvinyl chloride (previously Shellac) disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove.
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