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Vinyl

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As the former manager of a music store, I have been encountered this debate on a number of occasions.

To no one's surprise, the line can typically be drawn between the two parties by using age alone.

For arguments purposes, I felt like I should offer up full disclosure: I am only 26 years old.

Holders of the CD argument will offer up that the digital sound quality is superior due to it's clarity, durability, and availability.

Truth be told, nobody really replaces parts on their Cd player. If it doesn't work, it gets replaced and can be done so for a reasonable price.

Heaven help you if you need to replace the needle on your turn table. There are only a handful of stores that can accommodate.

Those of an older time will tell you that vinyl, when kept in good condition and played on a turn table of good repair offers up the purest, clearest sound.

For a long time, I sat squarely on this side of the debate based purely on the fact that every record I had ever listened to was beat up or the player was in poor condition. (The only record I ever owned up until roughly 5 years ago was a 45 of the Super Bowl Shuffle!)

It wasn't until I started working in the field of radio production. My ear became better trained and more finely tuned to small imperfections in sound.

As the man that trained me and I became friends, he was able to confirm what those elder statesmen at my music store had told me all along:

When everything is in good condition, Vinyl offers up the purest sound you can imagine. Perhaps you just feel a closer connection to music that is "pressed" onto vinyl than sound that is "burned" on to a CD. Vinyl lacks that "digital tinge" or "digital aftertaste" that Cd's have.

Now don't get me wrong, you won't see me flipping B-sides of LPs in my car anytime soon. In most cases, I still use Cd's and MP3s for their convenience and easy availability.

But when I have the chance, and the right kind of music, dropping the needle on that dark vinyl disk creates a physical connection that no small shiny disk can match.

Let me put it this way: Listen to a CD of B.B. King you and you can enjoy the sounds he created while in studio. Put that Same B.B. King LP on the turn table, and you could swear he's making old Lucille churn out those amazing sounds right in your living room.

Learn more about this author, Joe Jenkins.
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