Record or CD - which sounds better?

Does an audio CD or a record sound better? To anticipate one thing: whether the good old vinyl or the now hardly modern compact disc really sounds better is purely subjective and so you are always right with your feelings. There are, however, objective parameters that quantify the difference between original two-channel sound and its reproduction via turntables and CD players. In addition, considerations about the sensitivity and durability of both data carriers can be made. In this practical tip we compare vinyl and CD based on objective parameters.

Record or cd? The experts say that

Record or CD, vinyl or aluminum with polycarbonate? In forums you can find heated, at least lively discussions about the quality differences between vinyl and audio CDs. Since many people feel personally attacked when someone criticizes their medium of choice, we use the following specialist literature in this practical tip and keep our own opinion modest:

• Hans Jörg Friedrich: Sound technology for media designers. Hear sounds - understand technology - design media, Springer 2008.
• Reinhard Lerch, Gerhard M.Sessler & Dietrich Wolf: Technical Acoustics. Basics and applications, Springer 2009.
• KG Schwartz, "The mechanical pickup impedance and its influence on the wear of records", in: Progress in acoustics (DAGA), Berlin 1970, p. 193-196.
• Stefan Weinzierl (ed.) - Handbuch der Audiotechnik, Springer 2008.

The psychoacoustics of records and CDs - which sounds better?

Regardless of whether it's a record or an audio CD, both are ultimately heard by people. The translation of physical stimulus into psychological perception is the core task of psychophysics. This is how the record and CD perform in a psychoacoustic comparison:

• Dynamic range: The dynamic range from just audible to painfully loud alternating sound pressure comprises around 120 dB. Music has a volume of 60 dB. Records have a signal-to-noise ratio of around 60 to 70 dB, and audio CDs with their 16-bit coding can display over 90 dB dynamic range. Both data carriers are therefore sufficient for music.
• Dynamic accuracy: LPs can reproduce frequencies from around 30 Hz to 20 kHz with a precision of ± 3 dB, audio CDs range from 0 to 22, 050 Hz with a precision of ± 0.5 dB. Under optimal listening conditions, a change in sound pressure level of about 0.3 to 1.5 dB is just perceptible. This means that the frequency spectrum of records may differ audibly from the original recording.
• Distortion: Plate needles wear a little PVC over time, which can lead to non-linear distortion. This creates frequencies that were not included in the original signal. Electromagnetic systems show less wear and tear than piezoelectric pickups. The reading lasers of audio CDs, however, do not influence the CD content. Even after playing 1000 times, audio CDs still sound true to the original.
• Localization and spatiality: Through recording, panning and pseudo-stereo methods, music producers and sound technicians create the sound source position and extension of sound sources that they want. To do this, they generate targeted signals for both channels in a stereo setup. Due to the spatial proximity of the two electromagnetic pickups in turntables, these can sometimes influence each other. The channel separation in the middle frequency range is just 25 to 30 dB. This "crosstalk" usually ensures a narrower stereo panorama and a weaker spatial impression. Audio CDs, on the other hand, have perfect channel separation, which usually results in a larger room. The sensation of extensive sound sources and enveloping surround sound is proven to be one of the most important sound quality characteristics of concert halls and audio systems. Here the CD is clearly superior.

Durability and vulnerability of vinyl and audio CD

Records and audio CDs as physical data carriers are naturally susceptible to bumps, scratches and dust. They also have some other shortcomings. This is how both media compare in physical comparison:

• Durability: Experience has shown that both records and audio CDs last at least decades when properly stored. Regular sunbathing or a few slides on the sandy trunk floor will destroy both media in a few weeks. Records egg and then jump, audio CDs no longer play any sound at all. You can find out how to store records correctly in a practical tip.
• Durability II: If you not only store your music but also play it, you will notice wear and tear on vinyl. The record pin scratches through the record groove and wears it out. Achieve a distortion factor of almost 5% after just 60 plays. Since the playback speed of records is constant, the needle covers a larger distance on the outside than in the same time. This means that the audio quality of the first tracks is always higher than that of the last. Audio CDs have less than 0.01% harmonic distortion.
• Dust: Your grooves make records more susceptible to dust. Problems caused by dust inclusions can be minimized by "wet playing" with alcohol or distilled water. Audio CDs only suffer from thicker flakes of dust. However, we do provide practical tips for cleaning both records and CDs.
• Robustness: record players must be relatively firm and level. The early shellac records quickly turned out to be not very durable. Since the 1930s, vinyl, i.e. polyvinyl chloride (PVC), has been an optimal compromise between flexibility in order to absorb small impacts well and stability in order to be able to withstand abrasion by the needle for a long time. The "filling script", ie a larger groove spacing at higher levels, prevents the needle from breaking through. Portable CD players in particular often have an anti-shock function. A few seconds of sound are cached here. That means you can shake the CD player mercilessly as long as it fits in the cache.
• Scratches: If you hit the turntable, the needle slips and can demolish the plate. This can result in noise or a jump. Audio CDs can also jump on scratches, mostly with significantly shorter jumps. They have a transparent polycarbonate layer, from which even deep scratches can be sanded or filled. A scratch in the aluminum foil, however, irreversibly destroys part of the audio content.
• Characteristic curves: Record signals are initially heavily distorted and must therefore be corrected by a phono amplifier according to the so-called RIAA characteristic curve. Audio CDs show no such distortion.
• Noise: Noise from records is well known and has colloquial names such as "clicks", "scratches" and "crackles". In audio mastering software, such as Steinberg Wavelab, the noise typical of vinyl records is specially simulated in order to create a nostalgic or "historical" sound impression. The CD naturally shares a fault with the record: the jump.
• Mobility: From today's perspective, a decision between plague and cholera: there are both portable turntables and CD-Diskmen. Both are of course relatively bulky and not particularly shockproof.
• Digital records only play an unsightly timecode sound in order to synchronize digital audio files. You can also scratch WAV files and hear the pitch shift when playing faster.
• Long-term experience: We already have long-term experience with records. Many a hundred-year-old shellac record sounds almost as "beautiful" as it did back then ... mono, with a narrow frequency range and a hell of a lot of noise. However, at least burned CDs often don't last five years.

More important for the sound than choosing your sound carrier is probably the correct setting of your subwoofer, choice of speaker connections and optimal transmission. Of course you can also digitize records with the help of our instructions and then improve the sound.