Why is the new vinyl issue better than the CD issue?

[mikenyc]

After weeding through most of the comments on the vinyl issues of CD releases, I wonder why the new vinyl issue is better than the CD ?

Shouldn't there be some uniformity in what recording is used or licensed for use by the Music Company, or is this just another new scam, by which we are sometimes forced to buy muliple format issues of the music we love ?

It's a little smarmy to buy these multiple issues and be treated like the conditioned Monkey, grabbing for the pellet when it drops out of the food container ! It's bad enough Music Companies make multiple profit over the dummies who purchase, essentially, the same music over and over and over and over again !

[Todd Fredericks]

Some quick thoughts... It depends on what source is used to cut the record. In today's world, analog is rarely used (too much $$$ and time). They sometimes use the higher resolution digital master (before dithering down to 16/44.1 for the CD). In that case, the lp can sound superb. Sometimes the LP can sound worse (bad cutting, bad vinyl, too much info squeezed on each side/etc.). Sometimes the slight coloring from an analog rig (type of cart and other equipment, etc.) adds a nice smoothness to the digital source. Let the ears be the judge (or others you trust before purchasing).

TF

[TimM]

Along these lines I would be interested in hearing how the "new" Apple copies of Beatles vinyl sound when compared to the crappy CD's. I have considered trying some of these, but had assumed they would be the same as the CD's.

[Todd Fredericks]

Mike,

I have all of the "official" CD releases plus the wooden LP box that came out in the late eighties (don't ask why...). They sound more or less the same but sometimes I prefer the slight "coloring" from the record playback. I also expect the end of each side for the albums (habit). I rarely play these lp's (wooden box) but that's my take on them. My advice (for what it's worth) is to use the same money and buy NM UK pressings from the late 70's or early 80's. Or if you can swing it, spend a ton more and get the UK first pressings...

Todd

[Humorem]

Originally posted by TimM
Along these lines I would be interested in hearing how the "new" Apple copies of Beatles vinyl sound when compared to the crappy CD's. I have considered trying some of these, but had assumed they would be the same as the CD's.

If you are referring to the domestic Beatles releases of a few years back, I think they sound worse than the CDs, the worst versions of some of those albums in the history of the world. Bad tape + bad cutting = worst of all possible outcomes.

The current crop of imports is mostly tolerable, but hardly the way to go.
TP:eek:

[Paul Chang]

This article entitled PRODUCING GREAT SOUNDING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS (http://www.recordtech.com/prodsounds.htm) authored by the venerable Kevin Gray was mentioned in another thread some time ago. Due to the limitations of the medium, it requires more care to be taken to cut good sounding records. I truly believe garbage in garbage out so a bad master tape can make any medium sound lousy. Careless mastering is the next worst enemy to good sound and can be more detrimental to a more sensitive medium like the phonograph record.