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| CD | 69% | 832 votes | Total: 1209 votes | |
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Add to FavoritesThis is one of those age-old debates that will probably never be settled. It is a question that has sparked many heated discussions among serious audiophiles. There are as many differing opinions on this subject as there are different types of music that folks can listen to in their chosen format. No matter which side of the the argument that one may choose to champion, the reasons for their opinion are often very passionate, and no two are the same.
Although I personally believe that the advantages of the compact disc far surpass those of vinyl, that surely doesn't mean that vinyl is completely without merit. The music heard on CD is most often compressed to trim any frequency that is outside the auditory range of the human ear (typically anything between 20hHz and 20kHz), resulting in a much more sterile sound. Due to the fact that it allows the full spectrum of frequencies, most of which can be felt or sensed rather than actually heard, the vinyl LP does produce a much warmer and more forgiving overall sound. Studies have shown that while these lower frequencies cannot actually be heard, they do produce a wide range of reactions in the human brain that definitely add to the listening experience.
In addition, vinyl also provides the listener with a much better chance to enjoy the visual aspects of the packaging. Colorful artwork, photos, and sometimes even fold-out centers often allowed for a very interesting visual experience while listening. Heck, if you were a rock fan in the seventies and eighties, you even stood a good chance of receiving a neat little surprise when you opened an album; artists often included such things as posters, stickers, iron-on patches, and even buttons inside their records. So this is definitely one aspect in which CD does not compare to vinyl; the smaller format simply does not do justice to the artwork and inserts that accompany the songs. When you stop to consider that the artist has probably put every bit as much time and care into creating these things as they have in creating the music, it is simply not fair for these things to be neglected. Unfortunately, this is pretty much the extent of vinyl's advantages.
Compact discs, on the other hand, do offer much cleaner sound reproduction with far less background noise. CDs are also much more convenient than the vinyl LP for a number of reasons. First off, their smaller size makes them far less cumbersome than records. They are portable, which makes them perfect for the fast pace of life today, because they are easily listened to on the go. Also, they require a lot less storage space than records, and are far more durable. They are much more resistant to scratching and other damage when handled with the proper care; vinyl records cannot make that claim. This also means that you will never have to put up with those annoying pops and crackles that vinyl records are susceptible to as they wear; nor will you probably ever have to replace a disc because it has worn out...unless it is copied to CD-R, that is. They are also of greater advantage to us in this technological age, because they are much easier to convert into a digital format for use in computers, MP3 players, and other audio devices.
I know that in spite of these facts, many out there will not be dissuaded from listening to or buying vinyl records, and I'm perfectly fine with that; a person likes what they like, it's as simple as that! Vinyl records are enjoyable for the nostalgia factor alone. In fact, many artists who were well known during the vinyl era still put out limited edition vinyl versions of each new release, I have bought many of them over the years myself, just as collector pieces! Still, when one objectively weighs the pros and cons of both formats, I think the scale definitely tips in favor of the compact disc!
Learn more about this author, Randy Duckworth.
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Vinyl
An often overlooked view of this age old debate is the collective nature of vinyl LPs versus CDs. In this ever changing music industry, musicians are always trying to figure out new ways to not only earn a profit selling music but also create a degree of interactiveness and participation amongst their fan base.
With the onset of the digital mp3 era, CD sales have not only drastically decreased in record numbers but they are also showing no signs of slowing. Interestingly, the sales of vinyl have dramatically increased to the point where even big name chain stores are now clearing out precious floor space where fancy CD display racks once reigned to make room for the bulky but better selling vinyl.
As an avid music head and recording artist, I've witnessed the power a vinyl record has firsthand. Indie musicians are learning to harness the power of vinyl by offering fans special edition pressings and limited edition colored vinyl as ways to get the consumers interested in collecting the artists work as opposed to simply downloading the work off the internet, often illegally. To counteract the general lack of portability and convenience of a vinyl many smarter musicians are also offering up a free mp3 download with the purchase of each record. In this regard, vinyl is not only helping to resurrect the drowning industry, it's also an attainable method in which artists can use to make a living.
Ask anyone with a respectable amount of knowledge of music what the appeal of a vinyl is and you will undoubtedly hear the same answers time and again. Vinyl offers the listener more of an involved experience. To listen to a vinyl isn't to just pop a disc into a player, press play, and let the music fade into the background. Listening to a record requires more user interaction and encourages us to vest more time and interest into the overall experience. Vinyls are not stored in zippered cases away from the original artwork and packaging. Vinyls ask us to choose the sleeves, explore the artwork, smell the pleasantly unmistakable scents, take in the texture of the pressing. Vinyl gets all of our senses working in overdrive and creates an unmatched atmosphere that is perfectly complimented by the tones the album itself plays when the needle is set to the groove. One cannot simply walk away from album as it spins on a turntable.
Sometimes we become so enchanted with the new technological advancements that whenever we see the word "digital" our minds automatically registers the product as being better. Technically speaking, analog vinyl recordings actually offer up the truest and highest quality sound when compared to a CD.
Simply put, in order for audio to be digitized to a CD it is recorded into 44,100 bits of sound per second and then transformed into a relatively speaking very limited number of sound possibilities, thus resulting in a loss of original sound. Whereas, an analog LP records and plays back the exact waveform as the original tune. The groove on a vinyl LP has not been digitized therefore, the audio is not limited to record at a select number of samples per second.
The sound of a vinyl is more wholesome. Think of it this way: If you were going to commission a photographer to shoot some art for you, you would expect an original piece that fully represented the actual scene or subject of the print. You would not be happy with a broken down pixelated print that had to be restructured and retouched because of a computer's limitations.
Learn more about this author, Tiffany Mueller.
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