#Jukebox 33 rpm series

Their first series were on 2x45rpm, their recent issues are back to 33.3rpm. To escape more inconclusive anecdotes, it might be interesting to compare the Music Matters Blue Note reissues. But I'm not entirely sure this really does translate to better sound quality at the exact same volume level. This usually results in more output, which subjectively sounds better if you don't compensate the volume setting. Likewise on vinyl higher speed rotation and more space between the grooves means better dynamics. Higher tape speed means more 'headroom', as in more length of tape to enscribe the same signal. Perhaps there's a valid comparison to tape machines operating at different speeds. that is for the individual to decide the priorities.īut there is no dispute that they normally sound quite a bit better.

The most credible knock on 45rpm pressing is that they contain half the music a typical 33rpm pressing have so are more hassle to get up and change and disrupt the listening flow. it's been a big part of my vinyl listening. I own most of the 12' 45rpm pressing released in the last 20 years, maybe 1500 titles, most with 2 discs per title. many of those original pressing cost more to acquire (if you can find them) than the 45rpm versions. mostly the cases where the 33rpm is equal or better involve original pressings where the source master tape is fresh and optimal care was taken. just the physics of the media.Īnd normally a 12' 45rpm pressing will be better mastered, since there is more room for wider grooves allowing for more dynamics, and to get paid the premium for the 45rpm process, greater care is typically taken with the whole process, thicker vinyl is typically used.īut there are variables involved, so only about 80% of the time does the 45rpm actually surpass all 33rpm choices. it will have clearly greater bandwidth and dynamic range, show more scale and authority, and have more detail. What was unusual was that the quadraphonic version of the album included a quadraphonic Compact 33.All other things being equal, a 12' 45rpm pressing will outperform a 33rpm pressing of the same recording. You've got the Wonder 7', the Yes 7', one with the 'McCartney II' album and an unusual one included with Joan Baez's 'Blessed Are.' 2 LP set. Sometimes some extra songs were on them which couldn't fit on the album. In my collection, I have a copy of Neil Young's 'Harvest' LLP and Led Zeppelin's 4th album with all the good songs on it like 'Stairway.' and 'Black Dog'.įor the general public, 7' 33 1/3 compact 33's were often used as books & records for kids, talking books, special bonus discs, radio station promos and other promotional uses. The LLP's were made for jukeboxes well into the 1970's before they petered out. Stereo 45's would again re-appear at the end of the 60's. Stereo 45's were out of production, so the only way that stereo jukeboxes could get stereo records was to play the LLP's. In 1963, Seeburg introduced the LPC1, which played the next generation 7' 33 1/3 record now known as the LLP or Little LP, which usually had 3 songs on each side in stereo and were also abridged versions of a current LP. By this time, the 7' 33 1/3 records were called Compact 33's. The usual fare was a set of 5 special stereo records of a featured artist's latest album. In 1961, the artist of the week feature started. Some of the first were the stereo Seeburg jukeboxes in 1960. Where the 7' 33 1/3 found it's market was in the jukebox industry. record companies tried in vain into the 1960's to get the public to accept the 7' 33 1/3 singles and EP's. The first Columbia 7' 33 1/3 single had an anti-slip ring around the label like European and later Capitol 45's. Columbia was probably first, which they introduced to compete with RCA's 45 single. 7 inch 33 1/3 rpm records have been around for many decades.

Jukebox 33 rpm