While the hipster trend of retro everything may have played a part, many people have discovered the joy of listening to music on a record player. In this article, we’ll explore the science behind sound, the history of audio recording devices, and the factors that affect the way we hear music.

To understand why some people prefer vinyl over digital music, we need to start with the basics of sound.

Sound is simply vibrations in the air that travel through the ear canal and are interpreted by the brain as sound. The shape of a sound wave graph shows how compressed the air is at a given point over time. The larger the amplitude (or size of the peaks and valleys), the louder the sound, while the frequency (or the number of peaks that pass by the ear over a second) determines the pitch.

The first audio recording device was invented in 1857 by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville. His machine, called a phonautograph, used a horn to funnel air down to a thin piece of parchment. The parchment oscillated when vibrating air passed by it, and the movement was transferred from the parchment to an attached stylus. A piece of paper then recorded the drawings made by the stylus. Each step of this process was a physical transfer of vibrations from one medium to another, so the end result was a curve showing the changes in air pressure that created the original sound.

Analog playback was invented in the 1870s by French inventor Charles Cros, who had the idea to transfer the phonautograph recordings to a groove on a disc. If you look at a single groove of a vinyl record from the side, the shape resembles one of the phonautograph drawings. To play back the sound, a thin point (like a needle) rides along the groove, moving up and down with the peaks and valleys encoded in the record. The needle is held by an arm, and the needle’s movement re-creates the same motion the stylus made during the original recording. This arm is then attached to a thin piece of some flexible material, which vibrates back and forth as dictated by the arm’s motion. The movement of the material disturbs the air, and the disturbances are amplified as they flow out of a horn. The vibrations in the air created by this playback method are the same as those that produced the original recordings, so we hear the exact same sound that had been recorded.

So, does vinyl really sound better than digital music?

One argument in favor of vinyl is that it has a warmer, fuller sound. This is due in part to the fact that vinyl records are an analog format, meaning they are a direct representation of the original sound wave. Digital music, on the other hand, is a representation of the sound wave that has been converted into binary code. When the digital music is played back, the code is translated back into an analog signal, but this process can sometimes result in a loss of information and a less accurate representation of the original sound.

Another argument for vinyl is that it often sounds more dynamic than digital music. Dynamic range refers to the difference between the quietest and loudest parts of a song. Vinyl records often have a wider dynamic range than digital music, meaning that the quiet parts of a song are quieter and the loud parts are louder. This can create a more immersive listening experience, as the listener is able to hear more nuances in the music.

So, the question remains: why do some people prefer the sound of vinyl records over digital music?

There are a few potential factors at play. One is the idea that vinyl records have a warmer and fuller sound. This could be due to the fact that the analog process of recording and playing back music is inherently imperfect. Vinyl records are not able to reproduce the full range of frequencies that digital recordings can, and the physical limitations of the medium can create subtle distortions in the sound. Some listeners find that these imperfections add character and depth to the music, and make it feel more organic and natural.

Another potential factor is the psychological and emotional connection that people have with vinyl records. For many music lovers, vinyl records are more than just a way to listen to music - they are a tangible, physical object that can hold deep personal meaning. Vinyl records have a history and a culture attached to them, from the artwork on the covers to the liner notes inside. Listening to a vinyl record can be a multi-sensory experience that engages the mind and the body in a way that digital music does not.

Of course, it's worth noting that these factors are subjective and personal, and not everyone will feel the same way about vinyl records. Some people may prefer the pristine sound quality of digital recordings, or may not care about the physical aspects of music at all. Ultimately, the choice between vinyl and digital music comes down to individual preference and taste.

In conclusion, the resurgence of vinyl records over the past decade can be attributed to a combination of factors.

The popularity of retro and vintage aesthetics among younger generations has certainly played a role, but the enduring appeal of vinyl records goes deeper than just a passing trend. Vinyl records offer a physical, multi-sensory experience that engages the mind and the body, and for many listeners, they simply sound better than digital music. Whether you prefer the warmth and character of vinyl records or the pristine sound quality of digital recordings, the most important thing is to enjoy the music that speaks to you.