We often hear from enthusiasts that analogue vinyl audio sounds better and fuller than that of digital systems. If this is a real difference, why isn鈥檛 the digital signal tweaked to mimic the characteristics of a vinyl disc?
鈥� The characteristic vinyl sound is due to the limitations and distortions inherent in the format, including lower dynamic range 鈥� a measure of its ability to resolve different noises. There is also rumble from the turntable drive and noise from the stylus hitting imperfections in a disc鈥檚 surface. Vinyl is also less good for bass frequencies.
Digital music could be processed to make it sound like vinyl but this would probably lack authenticity to vinyl enthusiasts. After all, much of vinyl鈥檚 charm is in the sleeve art and the tactile experience of the large disc and its player. Musical experience is very subjective and prone to influence by expectations.
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Anthony Roberts
Rushden, Northamptonshire, UK
鈥� As a vinyl enthusiast, I should declare my bias at the outset. The reason that CD doesn鈥檛 sound as good as vinyl is down to the limitations of digitisation for CD.
The frequency range of a CD is 5 hertz to 20 kilohertz, with a high signal-to-noise ratio, which results in the very clean (some would say clinical) sound.
The original audio recording is analogue and can play back signals up to 22.5 kilohertz. So digitising this means using a filter at 20 kilohertz . The only way to genuinely improve a CD鈥檚 sound is to increase the sample rate 鈥� the number of measurements of the sound wave, which dictates how accurately you can reproduce audio 鈥� but that would cut playing time to about 30 minutes.
Alternatively an 鈥渁ural exciter鈥�, a signal processing technique, could be used to artificially create the higher frequencies lost in a CD recording. Electrical valves, or tubes, do this naturally, which is why a lot of hi-fi enthusiasts prefer equipment with these parts. But with a low quality amplifier and speakers you won鈥檛 notice the difference anyway.
Richard Hind
York, UK
鈥� I, and many other audiophiles, think that the best vinyl currently sounds better than digital. However, nothing prevents future reversal of that situation. Remedy lies with manufacturers tweaking digital hardware.
Peter Holness
Hertford, UK
鈥� To most people, the sound of vinyl audio is in fact inferior to digital. Bass drums and triangles are almost inaudible in orchestral recordings, for example. In addition, a standard record player introduces harmonic distortion as well as surface noise.
Digital sound, in contrast, has a frequency response 鈥� its sensitivity to various tones 鈥� wide enough for the most discerning ear, and a dynamic range so huge that no recording can use it all. Also, any distortion from digital sound reproduction is too small to be noticeable.
Given all this, why would anyone prefer vinyl? One reason is that the whole process from recording to pressing of the record is analogue. Some people believe that this means the sound will be smoother because it hasn鈥檛 been chopped up, as a digital signal has.
There is also a long history of people believing that using certain hi-fi components improves the sound. During the 1980s and early 1990s, oxygen-free copper loudspeaker wires were widely advertised as giving a better sound than ordinary copper wires, and people paid high prices for these cables. However, double-blind testing revealed that there was no audible difference between the two.
Brian Pollard
Launceston, Cornwall, UK
鈥淪ome people like vinyl more because they are attracted to the idea of retro鈥�
鈥� Some people like vinyl more because they are attracted to the idea of retro, and believe that, because records are older, the songs on them are more original than modern recordings.
The faint scratchiness makes records sound more retro and that would be hard to realistically recreate using digital equipment.
Xander Boyce (age 11)
Mitchelton, Queensland, Australia
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