Why I Abandoned Vinyl and then Re-Embraced It 20 Years Later
Monday, October 1, 2012 at 9:00AM
Over the past couple of weeks, I've participated in a couple of things that have cemented my once wayward relationship with vinyl records.
The first was a presentation at the inaugural Glenn Gould Variations. I conducted a modern version of an Edison "tone test." Using a $35,000 stereo supplied by Bay Bloor Radio, the audience was asked if they could tell the difference between vinyl, CD and MP3 versions of three different musical works (Roxy Music, Red Hot Chili Peppers and, of course, Glenn Gould).
Many people in the audience were able to tell the difference between the formats. Almost all could pick out the vinyl version of the recording.
On Saturday, I went back to Bay Bloor Radio for a similar sort of demonstration from Kurt Martens of Essential Audio. I couldn't believe how much better a 1973 issue of a Dave Brubeck record (bought for $1 at a used record store) blew away the sound of a CD in terms of smoothness, spatial imaging and high-frequency definition. Don't even ask about the MP3.
I bought a brand new 180 gram copy of that Dave Brubeck album and put it on the Technics SL-1200 I have in my home studio. Same thing. It sounded gorgeous.
So if vinyl sounds so much better than CD, why was I so quick to blow off vinyl when CDs first came out? Why was so unconcerned about the extinction of vinyl for so many years?
After thinking about it over the weekend, I came up with the following explanations/excuses:
(1) Vinyl used to be made of really crappy stuff.
When CDs were first put up against vinyl in the early 80s, it wasn't really a fair fight. The energy crisis of the 1970s had shifted the record industry towards recycled vinyl as a way to save money in an era of high petrochemical prices. Crappy recycled vinyl meant more surface noise: hiss, rumbles, snaps and crackles.
Not only was the raw material used in the vinyl of lower quality, the pressings were often thinner. Thinner vinyl means grooves that are more shallow. Shallow grooves are able to store less audio information, especially at the lower end. No wonder those records sounded like crap against the CD's digital storage capabilities which had no trouble storing deep bass.
No wonder I was so quick to kick vinyl to the curb. Like I said, it wasn't a fair fight.
(2) Turntables have come a long way.
For years, my workhorse turntable was an Akai AP-100C, a machine I paid $100 for using the money I earned from my first part-time job. I thought it was state-of-the-art. But compared to a turntable of similar value today (i.e. something in the $450 range), it's crap.
Turntable motors have improved. Enclosures are more advanced. Tone arms are better. Wiring within the tone arms is better. And let's not even discuss the amazing advances in cartridge technology. All this adds up to a turntable that can interpret what's in the grooves more accurately.
So when we were comparing CDs to crappy vinyl played on (comparatively) crappy turntables back in the 80s and 90s, well, no wonder the compact disc got all the love.
If any of this sounds even remotely familiar to you, find a way to sample your favourite band on vinyl using a modern turntable. Even with a half-decent set of speakers, you'll may find yourself asking your record collection for forgiveness.
Reader Comments (10)
Interesting observations on vinyl. I do agree with your findings but... there is no turning back for me. My old vinyl collection was, as you say, of poor quality and full of the ravages of much love. So, I can't go back to them.
I've moved on from CDs to MP3s hundreds of albums and I love the portability. To me, most of the problems around vinyl have always centered on space and portability. Vinyl is hard to store, heavy to move, easy to damage, does not work on the go and is not easily replaced.
There is no argument about the sound quality but I just can't see a way back.
It's only been the past couple of years I've gotten into vinyl, but I dutifully encode each one (new or used; ) and because I've bought some albums on vinyl that I previous had on CD I like to do listening tests between them. Newer electronic-based music sounds about the same, but older electronic-based sounds so much better on vinyl ... I like the original Kraftwerk more than the new re-releases too. Oh, and if you can get your hands on an Appetite for Destruction 1987 pressing, it sounds a lot better than the CD.
Great observation, Alan. While my turntable is among one of the crummier variety, I found myself turning back to vinyl after I just started not caring about my music. Everything was out there to download and sample in little bits, and take with you everywhere.
So I told myself that my music from that point on would be on vinyl whenever possible. Now it seems like I sit back with a glass of wine and pour over musty album jackets and lyric sleeves, I look at secret messages in the runout groove and decode all the little markings that tell you exactly where the record was pressed.
A prime example is 'Abbey Road'. On CD, "I Want You" ends and goes into "Here Comes The Sun" immediately afterward. On vinyl, the song suddenly and jarringly stops and the needle returns to its cradle, leaving a wall of powerful silence. You then have to get up and go flip the record over and only then do you truly get the proper transition into side two.
Interesting. I wonder what the specifics of the tone test was. I mean, a $35,000 stereo, but what type of turntable was it compared to the cd player? Was it a $10,000 turntable and a $10,000 cd player? Just curious. Or was it a $10,000 turntable vs a $500 cd player?
I've always loved and collected cds, but the more I hear about the virtues of vinyl, the more I'm tempted to take the plunge and collect only vinyl. I just don't think I can afford the equipment to really appreciate the difference though. I have a yamaha cd player and receiver and an old Technics turntable and to be honest, I can't hear a huge difference between vinyl and cd. Especially with some remasters nowadays, such as the recent Beatles and Pink Floyd remasters. To me, they sound amazing!
Alan - well stated. My first real music medium was CD's back in very late 80's and early 90's. I'd always listened to my parents vinyl, but CD's seemed miles beyond that sound. I've since invested in some British made audiophile equipment and Danish made record player.
My favourite part of buying new albums are when you find out it comes with a free digital download as well. Not only can you get the 180 gram pressing, but you can also stick it on iTunes to listen on your phone/iPod.
Cheers to your "new" found medium.
Nothing beats a respectable turntable being played through a tube amp. I have upgraded to a Rega P3 turntable and have rebuilt a Dynaco Stereo 70 power amp. The sound is absolutely brilliant.
I will always keep my CD's and my collection on iTunes continues to grow. But when I truly want to listen to my music and tune out the rest of the world... it's always vinyl.
You can't go wrong with vinyl. It's THE best medium for sharing music with friends. One of you flips the record while the other pores over the album art or insert book in a font that can actually be read. A thing of beauty.
Alan, it's great that returning to vinyl has reignited an appreciation of the medium for you, and as others have stated the act of listening to an album on vinyl is a more deliberate and relaxing experience.
But I suspect that your comparison at Bay-Bloor wasn't of equal recordings. CDs are unfortunately too often mixed and remastered with dynamic range compression to get a louder overall sound, while the same album on a record pressing doesn't get that treatment. Because with equal source material and no compression, CD recordings exceed almost every measure of sound fidelity when compared to vinyl...except for one: personal preference. Some people just like the sound of vinyl, and that preference is often due to the imperfections of the format. Some sounds aren't reproduced faithfully by vinyl and the result is a "warmer" sound.
That doesn't make it a superior format...or an inferior one for that matter. Just like our tastes in music, our recording medium preferences can't really be argued with. To each his own.
I just inherited a ridiculously awesome collection (all Beatles, all Pink Floyds, all Zepplins, etc.) of vinyls and I cannot wait to delve into it! my main challenge will be cleaning out years of accumulated hairs, dust and grease. would you recommend a diy (, method?
Hey, I like my AP-100C.