Better Sound from your Phonograph

How come? How-to!

Robin Miller, R A Bruner

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English

Robin Miller, Filmaker Technology Inc
01 September 2022

Music; Wave mechanics (vibration & acoustics); Technology: general issues

Preface 2nd edition: Science of vinyl and how-to reference...records sound better than digital over-processing and clipping that breed distortion. Level compression empties digital's least significant bits, reducing dynamic range to 12 usable bits (vinyl's equivalent). It gaslights shoppers to mistake immediately louder as better. Yet if you'd simply turn up play volume, recordings would be louder but also retain natural dynamics (loud v. soft), harmonic relationships (tone color, ), and sound better. For many, over-compression artifacts are irritating. For others, artifacts are brightness, possibly making up for deficiencies in their systems. Or the distortion becomes habituated, their new normal, though false - not high fidelity! Yet since the 1950s, analog vinyl still qualifies as high-fidelity.

Among many clarifications is the technical term cutoff in the chart on p22. It defines the top of any filter's cliff, not the bottom. Where the signal has only apparently fallen 3dB at a cutoff frequency, f3. But it's not the end of the world at the bottom, down several tens of dB. For vinyl, cutoff is the onset of loss of high frequencies (HF). The chart on p22 also speaks to the issue of vinyl v. digital. For example, a CD does not suffer in HF by end of disc - it has the same technical quality beginning to end, measurable in frequency response, distortion, and noise, the limitations of which engineers must heed mastering vinyl. Making test cuts, they check the sound with a transparent cartridge, finely aligned in its tonearm - the aim of this book for you! If trouble occurs while cutting the master, the side is scrapped and begun again. This diligence is one reason why vinyl now outsells CDs and downloads.

The new order follows the journey that begins with the engraved groove. For reader convenience, page referrals are in green type. Some readers may wish to save for later history stuff in purple, or higher-tech stuff brown. Some redundancy remains for readers' convenience, or for emphasis.

Again, the styli in micro-photo posters stand in for comparable products of other makers - it's not possible to include every tip by every manufacturer. They all share the science you will soon know in this book. In buying audio, seek honest specifications as cited throughout, and know how to compare.

Most digital devices are 'plug-'n-play, ' but warn No user-serviceable parts inside. This book encourages turntable users to delve inside. Because most anomalies can be minimized by readers, either hobbyists who like tinkering and science, or professionals who need optimal performance. By those who like music and other content on disk that will sound better after optimization. New micro-photo posters are key to choosing styli by performance and wear of your records and themselves. New context about other components in an audio system, and about who mastered the loudest record ever recorded. For easy reading, the gnarliest math is in the footnotes. Let's turn the page...

By: Robin Miller
Edited by: R A Bruner
Imprint: Robin Miller, Filmaker Technology Inc
Edition: 2nd ed.
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 281g
ISBN: 9798218067304
Pages: 146
Publication Date: 01 September 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for Better Sound from your Phonograph: How come? How-to!

***** 5-star review - A lot of the information comes from the author's extensive life-long professional experience in audio as well as his own research and study. I learned more about the importance of stylus shape, for example, in getting the most out of the record grooves without distortion. The author's no-nonsense approach is refreshing in this age of fantasy thinking by hi-fi hucksters selling snake oil products to innocent audiophiles. His practicality and focus on what is really important is a valuable perspective. I'm glad he shared his insights, wisdom and information with all of us in this nice book. - Dirk Wright, USA ***** 5-star review - Perfect for a techno-curious music-lover, it's a profusely illustrated and readable guide, with high-end knowledge that's harder to find in print than you'd think. - Confirmed buyer, USA ***** 5-star review - This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to get the best from their vinyl - and older shellac - records. How to get better sound by careful setting up your system. Constructional chapters show you how to make your own equipment with minimal skills and basic tools. I like this book because it is well written, easy to understand and has very useful illustrations. There's also access to online updates. What makes this book so good is that it shows how great vinyl playback does not need thousands of dollars (or your own currency) to achieve. - Richard Z, UK ***** 5-star review - I intend to build both projects in the book preamp and tonearm. All in all a very thoughtful book on the turntable and it's background science; would recommend it to anyone with the faintest interest. - John Hall-Freeman, Australia