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VINYL
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CD AUDIO
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Life Span:
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Vinyl doesn't oxidize to any measurable extent. It
is suggested that vinyl records will have a life
span comparable to fine parchment paper if cared
for properly. Somewhere in the 100s to 1,000s of
years.
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Various
authorities suggest that, depending on the care
taken during the manufacturing process, CDs will
last between 20 and 100 years... perhaps longer.
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Capacity:
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Vinyl
has limited capacity based on speed and groove
placement. The closer the grooves, the less dynamic
the sound, and more chance for skipping due to
scratches. At 33-1/3 rpms, records hold about 30
minutes per side with reasonable quality.
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As of this writing, CDs have a limit of 68 to 74
minutes capacity with no loss in quality. This can
be "tweaked" based on the wavelength of laser used
and pit placement distance. More than likely, CD
capacity will increase in the future as "blue"
lasers and multilayer technologies mature.
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Parts/Materials:
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Other than the label, most vinyl records are made
of 100% vinyl. This simplicity allows for the great
stability and life span of vinyl when compared to
CDs. As long as the vinyl is kept away from direct
light or moisture, the compounds are very stable.
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Besides
the silk screened or painted label, CDs are made of
3 distinct layers - a single thin Aluminum layer
sandwiched between two thick layers of plastic.
While the plastic layers are very stable, and
should last indefinitely, the Aluminum layer is
suspect. If the manufacturing process isn't
perfect, or cracks develop in the plastic
protective layers, the CD will oxidize and be
destroyed. A simple, though expensive, solution to
this problem is to use a gold layer instead of
aluminum.
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Storage/Care:
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Vinyl
records are very "high maintenance", requiring
extensive cleaning as well as various layers of
sleeves, liners and covers for protection. Storage
location and position are critical to avoid warping
of vinyl records. Additionally, dust, static
electricity, size, weight, and breakability cause
many long term storage challenges for the vinyl
record owner.
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In general, CDs are much more "sturdy" than vinyl
records. Storage and cleaning costs are greatly
reduced due to the decreased size of CDs.
Additionally, since CDs do not wear when being
played, there is no lost in sound quality based on
the number of plays.
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Graphics:
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12 inch vinyl records have roughly 5 times the
cover area of a standard 5 inch CD. This allows for
larger, more detailed graphics and printing.
Additionally, larger booklets and lyric sheets can
be included within a vinyl release.
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Graphics
and booklets included with CDs are much smaller and
more limited in capacity. The only advantage CDs
have is the increased protection graphics get with
the standard plastic CD case.
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Wear/Durability:
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Vinyl
is essentially a thick pliable goo! Because of this
plasticity, vinyl is scratched, worn and smoothed
as time goes on. As a vinyl record is played, sound
quality (particularly at the high end) is lost.
This process of sound degradation is directly
affected by record storage, turntable quality, and
needle quality.
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Since there is no direct wear to the information
containing layer of a CD (the aluminum layer), CDs
are very durable when properly cared for.
Additionally, with the advent of error correction,
CDs can still play with extensive surface scratches
and minor manufacturing errors.
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Portability:
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Other
than perhaps singles (45s), vinyl has never been in
any way truly portable. Attempts have been made to
make hand held players which play the record
vertically, but all failed to gain acceptance. I
doubt I will ever see a jogger with a vinyl
turntable and battery pack strapped on their back
:-)
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CDs are among the most highly portable recorded
media. With the advent of better anti-skip
mechanisms in recent years, CDs can be taken
anywhere under the most extreme conditions.
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Sound Quality:
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The big debate. Many audiophiles feel that vinyl
has a more "warm" sound and better sound production
than CD. Additionally, at moderate volume, few
people can tell the difference between a good
quality vinyl record and the best CD. Some bands,
including U2, still record on analog equipment to
capture the warm sound many feel CDs lack. Add in
the ability to "mix" vinyl records more easily in a
club setting, and many feel vinyl is the better
choice!
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The big debate. CD audio fans point out that CDs do
not undergo the quality loss of vinyl.
Additionally, they believe that CDs are a more
faithful reproduction of what the musicians heard
live or in the studio at the time the recording was
created.
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Of particular note is the unclear life expectancy for CDs. Vinyl
records are expected to last hundreds, even thousands of years (if
properly stored). Indeed, records from the 1870's made of wax and
shellac still play today! The concern over CDs lies not with the
plastic outer layers, but with the inner layer of Aluminum. It is
suggested that this layer may easily oxidize over time, rendering
your CD collection useless! At present, there is no reliable
"half-life" for CDs... perhaps as little as 20 years, perhaps more
than 100 years?