Recorded Music: Facts and Feelings—Part 1

There are various debates raging in recent years over which provides a better listening experience: (1) vinyl records or CDs, (2) different sampling rates for digital sound, and (3) streaming or recorded music. I have weighed in on this debate in a previous blog (“Authentic Audio,” January 2014), in which I reviewed the technical facts of vinyl vs digital recording. There is a lot of misinformation floating in the air and on the internet—most of it not intentionally wrong (unlike the deliberate spread of false news and information that is a current problem).

The debate that becomes most strident is about which is superior, LP records or CDs; but also between various forms of digitally-recorded music. Vinyl is currently enjoying a retro popularity. Record companies are scrambling to provide the public the number of LPs they want. Old machines that press vinyl LPs—that were mothballed when CDs came along—are being rescued and refurbished. Old engineers and technicians who once operated these machines suddenly find themselves being coaxed out of retirement with bundles of money. Old jukeboxes are also in demand. The price of old LPs mushrooms. Is this an example of retro fetishism?

How much of this demand is driven by facts and how much by feelings? That's a difficult question to answer. Nostalgia and retro beliefs play a strong—if not dominant—role in people's opinions. Sentimentality and beliefs both lead to feelings about the best sound, and those who are influenced by the LP trend tend to think, “Damn the facts, I go with my feelings.” Like global warming, there is a strong tendency to be suspicious of engineers or technicians who purport to present the facts—particularly when they conflict with one's beliefs and sentiments.

So what is the truth about the best sound? Which of the options—LPs or various digital alternatives—offers the best listening experience? Well, since one's experience is relative, there is no straightforward answer. Let me address the issue by making a distinction between facts and feelings. Unlike when judging some forms of art—the resolution of this issue is not just a case of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Preferring one painting to another, for example, is very much a subjective process. Who's to say which painter is better? 
 
But there are some facts about the quality of a music recording; facts that refute what some proponents of LP music are saying. Next time I'll cover a few of them.

More on recorded music next time...