MakeMineVinyl
Well-Known Member
I don't know how many of you here are aware that many of the more popular albums have for some time been released on vinyl at the higher than normal speed of 45 RPM. These albums are always split into two discs, usually with 2 or 3 songs on each of the four sides because of the shortened playing time at the higher speed. The packaging is always very much deluxe with gate fold jackets of heavy cardboard and are priced accordingly, usually about $50.
However, the sound quality is incredible.
Because of the higher linear speed of the grooves, there is much less chance of the physical limits of disc cutting being approached, much like a faster tape speed or higher digital sampling rate spreads things out more. Also, the grooves are never cut anywhere near the relatively small inner diameter of a traditional 33 1/3 RPM disc so there is no inner groove distortion. Also, the vinyl itself is always of such a high quality and the pressing is done so carefully that I rarely hear even a soft tick or crackle on an entire side.
This, on top of the fact that vinyl just yields a much more organic listening experience (yeah, yeah, I can hear the digital zealots screaming bullshit, but what my ears perceive matters more to me than dry lab measurements).
However, the sound quality is incredible.
Because of the higher linear speed of the grooves, there is much less chance of the physical limits of disc cutting being approached, much like a faster tape speed or higher digital sampling rate spreads things out more. Also, the grooves are never cut anywhere near the relatively small inner diameter of a traditional 33 1/3 RPM disc so there is no inner groove distortion. Also, the vinyl itself is always of such a high quality and the pressing is done so carefully that I rarely hear even a soft tick or crackle on an entire side.
This, on top of the fact that vinyl just yields a much more organic listening experience (yeah, yeah, I can hear the digital zealots screaming bullshit, but what my ears perceive matters more to me than dry lab measurements).
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