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Who asked for this?

I personally think the new 2-album 45 rpm craze is a PITA and that the record companies could have brought out a product that was 98% as good on one 33.3 rpm disc. Who wants to clean and store and extra disc with every record? Well, the vinyl industry must have heard my plea and is now releasing an even bigger abomination: FOUR single-sided 45 rpm discs per record. I'm sure you can't wait to get your hands on this stuff so you can spend even more time screwing around with the records and less time listening. (nothing personal - just a rant)

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/61219/Dave_Brubeck_Quartet-Time_Out-45_RPM_Vinyl_LP
chayro
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
There are technical reasons why 45rpm discs could sound better than 33/⅓s, but one reason for the proliferation of 45rpms is that the number of craftsmen who know how to cut long playing sides has greatly diminished due to retirement and death. For the same length of music it is easier to cut a 45 than an equivalent 33⅓ at the same level of fidelity.
herman
1,974 posts
 
I have quite a few both single and double sided and the sound is definitely superior to the 33. In many cases it isn't even close. It simply is not physically possible to equal what can be done with a 45 when you slow it down to 33. I agree that I would pefer less discs for the sake of convenience, but if you want the best possible sound and have a vinyl playback system capable of extracting what these discs have to offer then this is it, warts and all. I would also prefer the convenience of ditching the vinyl all together and playing little shiny discs but that results in inferior sound too.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Why the neurotic audiophile community asked for this and anything else that ramps up the cost of software while being as ergonomically hostile as possible.
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
It seems to me that a HUGE benefit to the single sided LP's would be not having to put the playing side down on the platter.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
If no-one bought them, them they would not exist for very long. 45 rpm long play have been around for many years.. they just are making more of them because somebody is buying them. (I own zero.. except a few 45rpm 12" singles)
I would think it would not matter? As for me, no-one is forcing me to buy any, and thus I could care less.. After all.. I spend my money on used LPs (though the used CD market is spectacular right now for buyers.. with a huge number of used CDs at $1 or $2 a pop. I have been filling in my Rock and Roll collection with hundreds of five star (All Music Guide) rated CDs.)
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