Iron Maiden - wasted years. CD vs LP

Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time - Wasted years. CD vs. Vinyl.
CD was mastered in late 90's. Vinyl mastered in late 80's.

Both CD and LP were recorded at picking level into pro tools
at 44.1Khz/16bit to let me compere them side by side
and show you how different they might sound.

CD was played on Panasonic DVD player. LP on Thorens TD-150.
At the very beginning of the video CD version is played at
the gain level to demonstrate how much louder
Compact Disk version is compered to LP. Later I turn it 6dB down to
let listeners hear sonic difference and not be mislead by loudness.

For me, Vinyl sound much better, voice can be heard much cleaner
with the great deal of harmonics. Transients are also much more
present on LP (no wander) while all these details are killed on
CD by compressors and limiters.

Ironically, CD as a medium can handle as much as 96dB of dynamic range while Vinyl only 60dB, yet still there is more dynamic left on the record.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• CD.
• Vinyl.
• Iron
• Maiden.
• Loudness
• war.
• LP.
• Turntable.
• Thorens.
• Pro
• Tools.
• Mastering.
• Dynamic
• range.
• Music.
• Records.
• Heavy
• Metal.
• Audioquest
• MC-3
• Cartridge.
• Moving
• Coil.

[Threemicsrecords]

Also, my good friend mention something about Ortofone that wasn't around in USA but was available on German's e-bay. I was in $200 range and according to some audiophile magazine cartridge was in class D with cartridge worth few Grands. BTW tomorrow I am going to buy Systemdek IIX. I can wait to hear how this TT sound.

[Threemicsrecords]

LoL, you are not cheap you just don't want to feel bad if something happen to the needle. I myself destroyed one and I was really mad at my self. I think I'd never get into MC if didn't get one already with a turntable. Unfortunately good sound is addictive. Of course, that doesn't mean that MM cannot sound great, but as you mentioned most of the time stylus itself cost as much as new cartridge so it seems to be that both MM MC will cost fortune no matter what.

[SAZodia]

Funny you ask, because i was about to ask you a similar question, lol, so as you can see I am not the best person to answer this question, i have always used Pickering, AKA Stanton, cartridges and stylus, but there are better no doubt, i too am looking into upgrading both the cartridge and preamp (circa 1972...)

[Threemicsrecords]

@SAZodia I was thinking about this one Sumiko Blue Point No.2

[Threemicsrecords]

I think It is time to change my belt. I cleaned the motor pulley and smaller inner plate sometime ago so I think It maybe a belt itself. I also printed page with strobe lines but none of lights I used have worked with it. I even asked in Radio Shack if they have such lamp but they didn't. BTW do you know any good MC cartridge around $250-400?

[SAZodia]

There is nothing like vinyl, i have that exact album, both cd and and vinyl (bought when it was released in Europe), recently i had my thorens TD 150 cleaned and tuned and wow, i never realized how the vinyl sounded so much better, everything is more defined in the vinyl than on the cd, so needless to say i have copied the Vinyl on to WAV with all its pops and hisses, and still sounds better than the CD.

[Threemicsrecords]

@SAZodia Thanks for comment. I agree, Vinyl sounds better and I don't feel bad that I paid for this LP $35 (YEP). It was worth it. I just don't know why LP version plays little faster (It ended few seconds before CD). It could have been my Thorens, but I am not sure.

[JoeyDrunko]

Can't believe I ever liked cd's. Almost all the ones made after 1990 were mastered poorly and sound like crap.

I have a cheap Audio Technica player I got on sale for $66, and even records I digitize on it sound better than modern cd's.

[chiaromontestephen]

@Frostdaddy88 i like the old school production better but it's weird because i prefer the 1998 remasters of iron maiden's classic 80s albums.

[Frostdaddy88]

Of course the vinyl sounds better, the mastering was done earlier, and earlier masterings always sound so much better.

[TheLordOmen]

Hey guys I've a question, I just bought a cr7002a, which can play cds, vinyls and cassettes, but the problem is that whenever I play a vinyl on this devise the sound quality is not as crisp as cds or any other digital formats!!! I heard before that vinyls should have a better quality when it comes to sound,but the quality of my devise is not even as equal as mp3!Please someone tell me how i can fix this, if at all!!!!

[canitasteyou321]

its not CD vs vinyl that makes the difference. its the mastering.

[oatstao]

Brickwall limiting is very apparant. Very good technical papers still available at TCelectronic about this problem.

[TheBackdoorwolf]

This video is pointless. You are trying to compare two versions which one is compressed more than the other. 'Somewhere in Time' has a uncompressed version, and the one we are listening to is the 'enhanced' more compressed one. The only way to can contrast the mediums is if you listen to an actual turntable. Vinyl has a 96khz output where youtube downsamples to 41khz. Its like trying to watch 3d without the glasses.

[martingerup]

I am really amazed. I didn't know that the difference was so remarkable. The CD is compressed all too much. You get some punch, gain, power, loudness, thunder and lightnin. But you miss the separation of the instruments. In fact it makes me a little angry: How can anybody allow cutting an original piece of art.

[ToastmachineIdiot]

LP WINS!

[Totalcrap666]

fuck yeah ih have somewhere in time both on cd and lp the lp is killer !