May 1, 2008

Which are better, vinyl records or CDs?

By Stan Dyer

When it comes to sound quality, storage capacity and portability, there is just no argument. CDs are more convenient and better. That is why vinyl records are now "obsolete technology." When, however, the discussion turns to true aesthetics, vinyl records are still tops. It is like the difference between fast food and a home-cooked meal.

I grew up in the age of vinyl and good home cooking. It took me a while to appreciate both. Not until college did I discover the proper care and treatment of records as well as the importance of owning quality equipment. By this time, my diet was primarily fast food even as I learned the importance of good audio equipment, taking care of it, and taking care of my albums. Home audio developed into an art that involved the listener and created a real sense of ownership. It was also at this time that numerous fast food meals helped me appreciate the value of those good, home-cooked meals I used to eat.

At college, our audio equipment advanced while our diets deteriorated. We enjoyed music using highly sensitive equipment with cartridges that plugged into the tone arm and needed not only regular cleaning, but also a counterweight on the opposite end of the tone arm to adjust for the correct balance and apply the right amount of pressure to the album. This adjustment protected the album from wear, ensured a long life, and reduced the amount of scratching and popping heard during playback. We treated our albums better than our stomachs. Dust was another consideration.

Every good turntable had a dust cover. Whether it was the preferred direct drive or belt-driven unit, care was taken to protect all components from dust. There were brushes, chemicals and even sticky, gummy substance all designed to remove unwanted dust and accumulated debris from the cartridge. Before playing a valued record, a true audiophile also cleaned the vinyl using some device such as a "DiscWasher" or other suitable cleaner. Many repeated the procedure every 20 minutes or so as one side of an album ended and the sound system went quiet signaling time to either turn the record over or select a new one. Before putting an album away, many owners first put their vinyl into a special, electrostatic liner to protect it from dust when in storage, and then always stacked the collection upright in approved vessels. All of these procedures gave the audiophile the sense and feeling of being more involved with the music and owning it rather than just listening to it and having it. When CDs came along, however, the art of care, preparation, and storage vanished as quickly as the vinyl it protected. One day as I was eating yet another fast food meal, the analogy occurred to me. CDs were the fast food of music

With a CD, the owner need only take care not to scratch the surface, occasionally wipe the CD down and clean the laser on his player from time to time. The art of care and preparation were no longer necessary. Music could now be like fast food. A listener just popped the CD out of its case, popped it into the player, and popped down on the sofa for ninety minutes. As for storage, CDs took up less space and could be stacked directly on top of each other with no special holders needed and with little risk of harm.

Yes, in a sense, CDs are better. They are more convenient, hold more music and have a higher quality of sound. Nonetheless, I enjoy the art of caring for my music, holding it in my hands, and wiping it before I listen, just the way I now enjoy making my own breakfast. I know having the right equipment and taking care of it makes a difference, but so does having the right food. Even those slight crackles and pops on vinyl sound like part of the music in my ears just the way those minor imperfections in homemade meatloaf make it taste that much better. To me, the difference between CDs and vinyl is now as clear-cut as the difference between fast food and a home-cooked meal. Fast food may be convenient and adequately nutritious, but wouldn't you really rather have a home-cooked meal? I know I would.