Flickr user: tessawatson Sound quality parameters are pretty simple to quantify. Any increase in sampling frequency or bit-depth will only improve on digital sound quality metrics discussed here. Vinyl records can easily cater to the full frequency range of human hearing and beyond.
Quoted limits range from as low as 7Hz to as high as 50kHz, depending on the hardware and any low frequency rumble filters applied. Specs vary within the context of the record itself.
As the needle moves from the outside towards the center of the record, it becomes harder to accurately pick up high-frequency detail as the spiral gets tighter. Over time, the inner grooves can end up holding less spectral content than the outer grooves due to wear. Konstantinos Hasandras Performance characteristics can change depending on where on the record the needle is playing.
If you play records on a poorly set up deck, the inner grooves will suffer from the most pronounced distortion artifacts. Digital files, therefore, offer over ten times the dynamic range of vinyl recordings, meaning a much larger difference is possible between the quietest and loudest parts of a recording before noise becomes an issue.
Roxanne Joncas Soundstage determines the width of the stereo image you perceive between the speakers. Separation between the left and right channels on vinyl is 30dB, compared to digital files which exceed 90dB. This gives vinyl a far more limited soundstage compared to its digital counterpart. Even with the best turntables, rumble can be generated by warped records or pressing irregularities. Even when not audible, rumble can cause intermodulation distortion , interacting with and creating other audible frequencies.
With time and repeated replays, the needle can press dust into the vinyl, meaning that crackles and pops can get ingrained in the record. A good turntable will have wow and flutter values of less than 0. Variations can also be present in the original recording, as a result of imperfections in analog recording devices see a theme here?
Since digital systems use precision oscillators for their time reference, as well as data buffers, they are not subject to wow and flutter. A good turntable can achieve impressive playback specs given how long ago the discs themselves became standardized. However, compared to the basic specs of an audio CD, the difference in performance is quite clear: digital is objectively more accurate and consistent.
Ortofon The Ortofon 2M Red is a moving magnet cartridge. There are relatively few instances these days where a recording is made solely using analog equipment. For example, an album may be recorded on 2-inch tape, but then bounced to a digital audio workstation DAW for mixing and mastering.
Another might be recorded and mixed entirely in the digital domain, but then mastered using analog gear. Which will sound best? Caught In Joy Dynamics processors are extensively used in the mastering process. For heaven's sake, no. Each format has its charms, and their overall differences in quality are often overwhelmed by differences in the quality of initial recording equipment, in mastering approaches, and in playback setup.
But if you're a vinyl collector, you also shouldn't go around telling your friends how much purer your audio is. First off, that's generally dickish behavior, but more to the point it's false. Digital recording just is more accurate.
That's not the only thing worth considering by any means, but it does make the puritanism of some vinyl true believers look rather ridiculous. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all.
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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Vinyl's great, but it's not better than CDs. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. A Rolling Stones fan holds a vinyl LP. What vinyl can't do A nice explanation of some of the challenges of mastering vinyl. What CDs can do Sound engineer mixing the audio behind the audio console.
The fact of the matter is that CDs can create closer facsimiles than vinyl can. What do people actually prefer? There is, sadly, no Pepsi challenge for CDs and vinyl. Image courtesy of Pepsi. So why do people love vinyl? Next Up In The Latest. Delivered Fridays. Thanks for signing up! Check your inbox for a welcome email. Email required. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy.
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The Taliban, explained By Sam Ellis. Facebook is quietly buying up the metaverse By Peter Kafka. Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for The Weeds Get our essential policy newsletter delivered Fridays. Give Give. After WWII, 33 and 45 rpm microgroove records became available. Eventually inch 33 rpm LPs became the standard for vinyl albums, while 7-inch discs became EPs. Share this comparison:.
If you read this far, you should follow us:. Diffen LLC, n. CD vs. Vinyl Record. Sound Quality From a technical standpoint, digital CD audio quality is clearly superior to vinyl.
Digital vs. Analog Format CDs are a digital music storage medium, meaning the music is encoded as binary data.
Follow Share Cite Authors. Comments: CD vs Vinyl Record. Related Comparisons. Contribute to Diffen Edit or create new comparisons in your area of expertise. Log in ». Terms of use Privacy policy. A CD is a Varying sized disk that is able to hold nano-sized digits formatted as digital files. A 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.
Plastic disc encoded with small pits beneath thin layer of reflective aluminum. Vinyl disc pressed with continuous spiral groove, from edge to center. Usually dual-sided.
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