33rpm vs 45rpm - which is better


Growing up, I was a big Peanuts comics fan including Vince Guaraldi’s music.

Recently, a remastered from tape “Great Pumpkin” vinyl was announced in both 331/3rpm and 45rpm, both are a single LP each at Elusive Disc. Both albums have the same number of songs.

It seems that playing slower allows for wider grooves, while faster may mean longer grooves. If so, I’ve no clue which one is better.

Which version offer the best sonics?

 

 

 

kennyc

Showing 5 responses by larryi

I’ve heard audiophile releases by the same company in both 45 and 33 versions and the 45 version is slightly better—more “open” sound.  But, in this particular instance, where the 45 version is also on a single disc, one has to wonder how that was accomplished and whether that entailed some other compromises.

If it were a two-record set for the 45 rpm recording, I would expect that to be slightly better.  The reason for 45 rpm albums is for the higher quality (grooves with not as tight turns on the wiggles).  But, if both are done to just two sides, you have to now factor in disadvantages of 45 rpm.  The 45 would require closer spacing of the grooves, or lower cutting level, or cutting closer to the label, or a combination of these compromises.  My guess is that it will be cut much closer to the label.  This means playing where the stylus is farthest from the ideal of perfect tangency to the groove.

baylinor,

I agree.  I rarely buy 45s because of the inconvenience of flipping sides.  Then again, I don't play that much vinyl because I am too lazy for even that.  With many recordings, the originals are better than the audiophile reissue, perhaps because the master tape has deteriorated over the years.  But, with a lot of great music, it is pretty hard to get originals, and the cost is prohibitive.  If we were limited to buying only originals, so few of us would have access to Bluenote recordings.  

I do have fun shocking people with some original recordings that demonstrate how the art of recording has NOT improved in the last 60+ years.  I can put on a 1959 Columbia Brubeck "Time Out" or Ellington's "Blues in Orbit" to show that even stereo was fantastic way back in time.  Both recordings have had audiophile reissues, none quite match the originals.

wallytools,

I know your scope is used for setting dynamic vta, but, is it also ideal for more basic overhang adjustment?  Do you have any other suggestions on what optical device to use for doing basic adjustment.  I have your latest protractor, which is very good because proper adjustment is unequivocal when you follow instructions.  But, it does require looking at the stylus from both the front and the side, and so I wonder if your scope or any other instrument is helpful in this application.  I don't know about whether focal length being appropriate for viewing head on, for example.

 

Thanks.

There are plenty of nice sounding modern jazz recordings too.  They are almost exclusively available in digital formats.  I don't think sound quality for jazz or classical has gotten worse since then, it just hasn't improved much despite all the supposed technical improvements.