CD or Vinyl?

[Bill]

i like the snap and crackle,its lovely effect while listening to reggae vinyl.

[Thomas]

I love vinyl. I agree with _reggae originator_ that the bass is much deeper (and more natural sounding) than on CD and the overall presentation is more rhythmical.

[kukuman]

Let us look at this discussion topic from a technical point of view, yeah? Compact discs are supposed to have a higher dynamic range, which means they can encompass a broader range of frequencies than records.

You seem to be confusing dynamic range with frequency range. Dynamic range has to do with the range of volume. Frequency range in digital media is determined by the sample rate. The sample rate for CDs is 44.1 kHz, and according to the Nyquist theorem the maximum frequency would be around 21 KHz. Vinyl is not digital so this doesn't apply, and in fact the frequency range of vinyl can be quite high, up to and exceeding 45 kHz. Though this is well beyond what the human ear can pick up, many believe that these extra frequencies contribute to a perceived higher sound quality for vinyl, due to the addition of these high frequencies as harmonic overtones.

The "loudness war" has unfortunately crept into reggae reissues (I'm looking at you Auralux), and due to this I prefer vinyl releases over CD. It seems that proper mastering of a CD is a lost art. Wikipedia surprisingly has a good article on this phenomenon.

[leggo rocker]

It seems that proper mastering of a CD is a lost art. Wikipedia surprisingly has a good article on this phenomenon.

I think it died the moment the CD changed from super-lux-brand-new-top-dollar-max-quality to a cheap consumer item.

[Guest]

hey dont say dat, those people who dont master their cds hardly reach somewhere. jus a few sells but good work will always get payed out like capleton say in a tune

[Version Control]

I can't add to the technical debate, but we shouldn't confuse relative prices for different formats with an item's rarity value.

I too have the bug that causes me to reach for my wallet far too often when I see a cherished 12" import from 1977 going for £20 secondhand!

But I've noticed recently that new compilations or re-issues that are pressed on vinyl as well as CD often have little if any difference between the prices - and in some cases the vinyl comes cheaper if it's on a single LP. Also most towns and cities (at least in the UK) have stores that sell piles of old vinyl dirt cheap.

So what makes it the rich man's alternative has more to do with a few of us anoraks paying ridiculous prices for lost treasures rather than the format itself being beyond most people's budgets.

VC

[leggo rocker]

Good point VC. Loads of old vinyl, even classic reggae originals, are very accessible price wise.

[6anbatte]

Just take a look at my favourite read - "[Record Collector Magazine](http://www.recordcollectormag.com/site/ ... efault.asp)" - and you'll realise how, *relatively*, cheap reggae vinyl is!

I recently told a mate of mine who is seriously into (non-reggae) vinyl what I was paying for rare stuff and he looked at me and just said ["Cheapskate!](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cheapskate)"

He doesn't think twice about paying £100 for a 7".

Also there is a guy in my office who has just paid £650 for an Elvis single. It a 78, which he can't even play! Consequently, he's had it framed to put on his wall! Totally idiocy if you ask me.

As I said it's all relative and as Leggo Rocker said loads of classic reggae originals are very accessible price wise.

[leggo rocker]

All you need to do is to take a trip to popsyke to see that we're getting of relatively lightly, so far.

I wonder what the world record price for a vinyl record is?

I bet it's more than 10,000 USD.

[6anbatte]

Definitely more than that. I'll have a look. Pretty sure it is something bizarre. Maybe the Pistols, would you believe. $20,000 possibly. Don't hold me too that. As I wasn't particulrly interested it didn't sink in!