Vinyl Records vs. Digital Audio: Which Has the Better Sound?

The debate over whether digital or vinyl sounds better rages on. Some on both sides point to science, while others are convinced strictly over matters of personal preference. So, what has the better sound, digital or vinyl?

Vinyl records generally have the better sound, although digital audio has a better signal-to-noise ratio. Smoother sound waves and better amplitude ensure that the listener receives a “warmer” tonality due to increased frequency response and dynamic range.

However, the clean audio delivered by digital is considered superior by many to the pops and crackles that can be heard on vinyl records so this is highly subjective.

In this article, you’ll discover the critical factors surrounding sound quality. I’ll then explain what analog and digital signals are and show you the differences between each. After that, I’ll provide you with some tips for improving the sound quality of your vinyl records.

A Primer on Sound Quality

Every audiophile on the planet wants better sound quality and that’s part of the reason that vinyl records are on the rebound in the consumer market. But what is a better sound anyway? What makes the difference between a recording sounding good and it sounding terrible?

Sound quality can be measured in two ways:

Subjectively. We base our interpretation on what we’ve heard before that was either pleasing to us or offensive according to our past experiences.
Objectively. We can incorporate state of the art electronic equipment and software programs to measure precisely how much a recording sounds like the original.

Factors Affecting Playback Quality

Using both methods, we can get an idea of the accuracy and fidelity of a musical performance. Three primary factors are affecting the sound quality of recordings:

Equipment. Everything, from the type of stylus on your turntable to the kind of speakers you have, contributes to the recording’s overall sound quality.
Mastering. In most cases, a sound technician can manipulate sound quality using various types of equipment such as equalizers and processors. That can create a very different playback from the original but is more pleasing to the listener.
Listening environment. The acoustics in a room can affect quality by changing how sound waves bounce from one object to another. Also, if there is any external noise created by the environment: cars, lawnmowers, shouting people, etc., that can have a profound impact on how enjoyable the playback experience is.

What Is Analog Audio?

Sound waves from our voice are analog and are represented by a continuous sine wave that fluctuates within a wide range. Analog signals originally had to have some type of mechanical device like a phonograph to record them. With the invention of electronic recording, that is no longer the case.

The same principle applied to the early phonograph applies today. Analog signals used to record vinyl records are still used in modern playback equipment.

The main difference over the years is the technological advancements. The record players (turntables), styluses, amplifiers, and speakers are all high-tech now. The sound quality is much better due to the advances in audio playback technology.

Problems With Analog Recordings

Analog signals have to have a means of producing their waveforms. In our case, we listen to music reproduced onto a vinyl record.

A stylus connected to a pickup arm transfers electrical signals via grooves etched in the disc during the recording process. The electrical signals are then translated to sound via the waveforms as the stylus tracks evenly over the entire surface to the end.

This all sounds great until you take a closer look at the entire process. I can list several inherent problems:

The stylus will often mistrack. Sometimes turntable speed fluctuations and groove displacements will cause the stylus to track slightly off course. The result is a distorted sensory output creating fluctuations and irregularities in the form of signal noise. It is ultimately a misrepresentation of the information contained in the record grooves.
Records are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC molecules tend to shift over time and are subject to minor temperature fluctuations. The grooves in the vinyl can become distorted and lose their contour. Even the slightest changes in continuity can alter the record’s dynamic range.
Variations in stylus width can cause problems. Output signals are obtained by dragging the stylus over the record in a predetermined time. A larger stylus will improve resolution but decrease bandwidth. Conversely, a smaller stylus will improve bandwidth but decrease resolution.
Analog signals are inherently noisy. Electronic noise is defined as any disruption to an electrical signal. This is a very bad thing when it comes to sound reproduction. It tends to mask the record’s dynamic range variations, disrupting the frequency response.
Mechanical noise. Everything from worn vinyl to damaged turntables can cause the sound of your records to pop and crackle. Even with the cleanest vinyl, it may be unavoidable.

What Is Digital Audio?

In digital signal processing, the waveform looks more like a stepping stone and is made up of binary signal patterns, unlike analog’s continuous sine wave. A digital signal is a sampling of an analog signal before being quantized, a process that compresses the analog signal, using fewer bits of data than the original.

To convert an analog signal to digital, you need to process it through a digital converter. The simplest examples are for home use that convert a television signal from an antenna to a newer, digital television.

You don’t need a converter if you are recording from a digital soundboard. Like most newer recorders, it has the microprocessor already built into it. There’s no need for conversion since it records digitally right from the source.

Problems With Digital Recording and Playback

In digital recording, the musical source’s sound is digitized, which means it is converted into binary number sequences to be played back utilizing a computer algorithm.

Approximation. Without going into too much detail, digital signals are finite in their sequencing. As a result, they can only be an approximation of the original signal.
Noise. Digital signal processing can sometimes create noise and distortion within the signal. The use of high-tech equipment can mostly overcome the problem.
Excessive noise filtering. In recent years, manufacturers of every kind, from recording device makers to computer and CD creators, all jumped on the bandwagon of making the digital sound in every recording “perfect.” As a result, they’ve burrowed out of the music the very essence of its warmth and personality.
Signal compression. As a signal level increases, so does the distortion. The solution is to compress the signal, limiting the dynamic range and bandwidth. Most digital engineers will swear that you can’t hear the difference. But try telling that to someone with a musically-trained ear!

Vinyl Records vs. Digital Audio

Now that you have a better understanding of the two recording types, you can see a common goal between the two: to recreate the original sound wave so we as listeners can hear what the musical artist was trying to convey. However, even though the goal is the same, sometimes the results can be very different.

Noise Floor

There is always some noise inherent with vinyl playback. While the stylus runs over each groove of the record, there is almost always a hissing, crackling, or popping sound. The degree to which this happens depends on a few factors:

Age of the disc
Cleanliness of the vinyl
Condition of the stylus
Amplification

In contrast, a theoretical noise floor of a 24-bit digital recording is -144 decibels (DB). In other words, there is no discernable noise that the human ear can pick up. Still, since analog components are used in digital systems, it could greatly add to that number.

Amplitude

Amplitude is the variation or change in a sound wave. Digital audio will always be somewhat restricted since there are only so many data samples you can take per second. There will always be space between the samples, so the amplitude is limited.

Contrast that with analog, which can catch the smallest variations in amplitude due to its constant waveform. Unlike digital, which cannot capture medial values, analog can capture all amplitude values that represent the entire sound wave.

Reproducibility

Digital wins this fight, hands down. One digital recording can be made and copied an infinite amount of times without losing its original quality. It can be sent to the world via the internet at a very low cost. To produce that level of analog musical content, you would need to manufacture millions of vinyl records.

A Subjective Review of Vinyl

The problem that most vinyl lovers have is that the music coming over most speakers, no matter how much you pay for them, has a cold, mechanical sound to it. I tend to agree.

For example, throughout all of J.S Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, you normally hear the cello resonate throughout the piece. However, with digital recordings, it is hard to distinguish the cello from other mid-range instruments.

The same also goes for bass guitars. A great example is Paul Simon’s Grammy award-winning Graceland album. It has some of the best bass-lines ever written, especially the famous bass solo in “You Can Call Me Al.”

In most live bass guitar lines, you can hear every note resonate, at least to some degree. That is also true when listening to a vinyl recording.

Unfortunately, with digital audio, that same bass line will sound muffled and even a bit distorted. You just don’t get the same crispness with digital as you do with an analog recording.

Why Do People Choose Vinyl Over Digital?

Other audiophiles have the same problem I do. They just can’t seem to enjoy digitally-mastered music as much as with their vinyl recordings.

Take the person who buys a car with a digital stereo in it. They don’t hear the difference until they are introduced to vinyl for the first time and get hooked. They don’t know why they like it better; they just do.

In a lot of these cases, people feel like they’ve been missing out. The next thing they know, they’re purchasing turntables and amplifiers. Often, it makes no difference whether they buy the equipment new or from a thrift store.

Some people switch from analog to digital, and then back to analog. Maybe their turntable broke, and they started streaming from their computer. After a while, they can’t stand it anymore and wind up buying another turntable.

It’s absolutely true that it all comes down to personal preference. Everyone has their reason for choosing vinyl over digital audio.

Here are some quotes about analog from famous musicians:

Ray Charles: “I have to tell you, man. In listening to sound, I guess what I’m after is the closest thing that I can get to reality. Now, I know it’s not going to be reality, cause the thing gotta go through wires and gotta go through filters and this and that. I understand all that. But what I really like is to get as close to the natural sound of the instruments as possible” (source).
Joe Strummer, Guitarist and Vocalist for the Punk Band, The Clash: “Have you heard about the cows in Texas? The story was that milk production dropped off with the bovines when the farmers stopped playing them music on tape machines and switched over to CDs for entertaining the stock. If cows can tell it, then we sure as heck can” (source).

For Some, It’s Simply Nostalgia

Most people who switch from digital to vinyl say that it’s because of the “warm feeling” they get from the music. After all, their emotions are somewhat grounded in science. The sound waves are more continuous, with greater amplitude than with digital recordings.

However, sometimes, people’s interest in vinyl recordings is entirely illogical. Maybe the cracking sound of the stylus scraping over the record grooves reminds them of a perfect childhood during the “good old days.” And that’s altogether wonderful since music is supposed to elicit an emotional response.

And then there are those who don’t mind listening to either digital or vinyl recordings. Either will do, since they have a love for music, no matter what the medium. And that’s okay, too.

Tips to Improve the Sound Quality of Your Vinyl

I would be remiss if I didn’t at least give you a few pointers on making analog work better for you. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Clean your records often. Investing in a good cleaning kit will go a long way to keeping your vinyl sounding great while also preserving them. Cleaning products for vinyl records like the Big Fudge Record Cleaning Kit (link to Amazon) has everything you need to keep your vinyl looking and sounding great.
Store your records vertically. If you try to stack your records horizontally, it may warp them. And warped vinyl doesn’t sound very good.
Invest in a quality turntable. It’s time to say goodbye to that old suitcase record player and start shopping for a real turntable. Keep in mind, when it comes to turntables, you usually get what you pay for.
Consider upgrading your speakers. This can get a bit trickier than shopping for turntables. There are so many varieties and sizes to choose from it can be overwhelming. Stay with it, though. It could be one of the best investments you make concerning your sound system.
Pull your speakers out from the wall. Speakers need to breathe so the sound will flow evenly around them. If they are too close to the wall, the bass will become overbearing. The rule of thumb is to have them out about two feet from the wall, at least.
Avoid lousy room acoustics. Things like adding carpet and thick drapes will help. Also, don’t overlook the advantages of arranging bookshelves and furniture to help with an empty room’s overall sound quality.
Avoid static electricity. Static buildup on records is your worst enemy when it comes to sound quality. It attracts dust and dirt to the vinyl surface. It also affects the stylus, causing popping and crackling noises during play. You can reduce static using inner record sleeves, anti-static devices like the Milty Zerostat (link to Amazon), and room humidifiers.
Consider replacing your turntable cartridge. The cartridge is responsible for transmitting mechanical data into an electrical signal for proper playback. If it is not working correctly, it can cause skips, increase noise, and change the overall sound characteristics into something undesirable.
Set up the optimal sound stage. Position yourself and other listeners in the center between the two speakers. The ideal distance is the same as the distance between each speaker.
Upgrade your amplifier. Although this may be the least important, it still is an excellent investment to have a quality amplifier for your home sound system. Like most things audio, you get what you pay for in terms of performance.

Conclusion

I equate digital audio to distilled water. You take flavorful spring water and boil it for an hour to get all the contaminants out. Sure, it’s 100% pure, but it’s also completely tasteless.

That’s what happens to digital audio. You filter the life out of your music, and you are left with an antiseptic version of what the original musical artist was trying to convey. The music loses all its wonderful flavor. For that reason, vinyl is better.