Date:         Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:29:00 -0700
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Mike Richter <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Can 78s sound better than LPs?
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Marcos Sueiro Bal wrote:
> I have noticed that when recommending sound cards for podcasting 78s, some
> on the list have not chosen top-of-the-line models with the assumption that
> the sound quality of 78s is inherently inferior to that, of, say, LPs. That
> seems generally to be the case, but I do remember once hearing a pristine 78
> RPM acetate of a live jazz recording that blew me away --the sound was big
> and detailed, clean, and also quite louder than the average LP.
> 
> My question is: is the 78 "system" inherently an inferior product? I do not
> know enough about it, but it seems to me that it is moving faster and the
> grooves are wider, so, potentially at least, it could sound better than 33s
> (stereo notwithstanding). Or could it?
> 
> Marcos
> 
The best 78s I've heard sound better - far better - than the worst 
commercial LPs. However, a good LP will run circles around the best 78. 
OTOH, you should hear a good 12" 45-rpm disc; I've a Japanese recording 
of the Appassionata which comes as close as anything I've heard to 
bringing a Boesendorfer Imperial Grand into my living room. (Where a 
real one would be but for a few tens of thousands of dollars and some 
extra decades of piano lessons. <G>)

Mike
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