2. analog
  3. 141139-118637

Do 45 rpm 12" LPs really sound better than 33 rpm?

Increasingly, one can buy 12-inch 45 rpm LPs. Theoretically, they provide a wider dynamic and frequency range, but I come across a strange effect... Yes, the bass strings seem to be tightened stronger, but in general ... Imagine you have two cars with a power of 250 hp, but one is equipped with an honest atmospheric V6 or V8, and the second has 2 liters turbo. 

Tell me, is it just my impression? Or maybe I need to change the cartridge or settings (for example, impedance) of the phono preamp?


128x128mishan

Showing 2 responses by unreceivedogma

unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
898 posts
 
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. So many factors go into it. 

I have mfsl pressings of the Jefferson Airplane’s Crown of Creation at 33 rpm and Volunteers at 45 rpm. Both originally mastered by the same guy, Wally Heider. 

The mfsl at 33 sounds decidedly better than my original press. The mfsl at 45 is at best a wash. 
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
898 posts
 
Pursuant to chakster’s comments about 7” and 12” being different animals owing to culture etc there is this:

The guy who mastered all the early Byrds singles would ask an LA DJ with the midnight to 6:00AM slot to play demos while he drove around the hills around LA in his convertible GTO to hear what it sounded like, and then make what he felt were the appropriate adjustments for the way the song he felt was most often heard: played by a radio jock and listened to on the car radio, or a portable transistor radio. 

I would not not be surprised that most if not all recording engineers of the late 50s / 60s / early 70s made these kinds of adjustments. 
More to discover