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

45 LPs don't do it for me because normal sides are cut in half and usually better sounding LPs are originals, not recent remasters. I have a few but don't play them very often at all even if they may sound better, which is debatable.

 

If people hadn't wanted the playing time offered by 33.3, 45rpm on 12 inch would have become the standard for sound quality.

The quality of the 45 RPM speaks for itself. Why on earth would anyone spend more money and go through the hassle of dealing with four sides to listen to one album if the quality wasn't better? Joe

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.

Sorry, this isn't to suggest that 7 inch 45rpm's sound better than 33.3 LP's They do not. Joe