33rpm vs 45rpm Pressings | Vinyl Records Discussion

While the greatest majority of long playing albums are cut at 33 1/3rpm, there are some albums that get pressed at 45rpm. The vinyl community seems to be very split regarding albums that get pressed or reissued at 45rpm. In this video, I'll share my opinion on the topic along with a few examples of both types of pressings.

Please make sure to leave a comment below with your opinion!

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[michaelcrow]

I cant believe you have a topic I don't have an opinion about. Great video Russ

[gregorypegg]

I have an extremely modest system, even though I have been a collector for 48 years. I am good with 33 1/3 pressings. I will never hear a difference. Great video!

[oleplanthafer]

The perfect vinyl format for sound has been found to be 47rpm on 6.5". RCA were sooo close in 1949! Mind you, a tonearm set-up dedicated to 7" is mandatory, as "regular" set-ups do favour LP's by far. At best, they are a mere compromise for singles. The Stevenson-alignment is well worth it to me. Oh, and if you're not just into Pink Floyd - 99% of all music is best enjoyed in transparent and crisp mono-mixes. Try it! 😎

[kdbutter]

I totally agree. I want the best sounding version, which is why i try to get the 45s. There are some like amused to death that a 4 lp 45 was just not worth it. I was hesitant about getting the metallica black 45 box set, but it ended up being worth it

[eversosleight]

How can i tell what speed an album is supposed to be played at? Something on the insert say? Example: Cattle Decap Terrasite. I've been playing this at 33 but all over Discogs says 45. Shouldn't this be indicated on the record somewhere? Seeking help

[angbernardo]

You make an excellent point in saying that some records must be 33, with Floyd being an excellent point. I do find myself wanting the 45 version of an album if it’s available. I don’t mind getting up more often to change sides. I welcome the break and I have a short listening son anyhow. But 45s do sound punchy and dynamic to my ears. The attack, as they say, is immediate.

[Chicosweet]

Here because my pre-order of the new Opeth album is 45 RPM. From my 30-ish vinyl collection so far, it's the first vinyl pressing that has 45rpm recomendation, I have a AT-LP60XBT turntable, found this video helpful and a good watch! ✌🤘

[primeanalogrecordsandwatches]

I love both since when I listen to music I am fully engaged! Sure 45rpm takes a little more work getting up more often but who cares! I love the fact that the grooves are more spread out so more information can be produced! The biggest difference over the 33 or 45, beside, the sonic benefits, the price is getting out of control especially since the 45's generally have to be spread over 2 discs!

[JP-otro]

Really spot on Russ regarding the tradeoff and is it worth it. I would have to agree on Pet Sounds with the flow. Also, Rumors sounds so damn good on that 45 pressed at Pallas !

[mattlupu]

What I like most about 45rpm is I can feel the music especially the drums and bass more. I also notice I will listen to the music more intently probably because there isn't the time to drift off as much. If a label has both like AP I will usually pick the 331/3 just for price reasons because the quality of the pressings are usually close enough not to warrant the higher price.

[NothingLikeVinyl]

There are many variables involved in the sound quality of a vinyl record. But all others equal, I definitely notice the improvement that the higher spinning speed imparts to SQ. I love albums pressed at 45 RPM, and I have absolutely no problem about flipping records more often. But I agree that this treatment doesn't work for some albums. Not just because of the length of some tracks, but because of the flow of the music, and "The Dark Side Of The Moon" is my top example in that regard.

Now, I'm happy to pay around $50 for a 2x45 RPM like, for example, the Analogue Productions version of Herbie Hancock's "Head Hunters" (which is a product that oozes quality in my opinion), but paying $100 for a MoFi UD1S (or an Analogue Productions UHQR, for that matter) is absurd to me. I have absolutely no doubts about the quality standards applied on the production of those releases, but I don't think the actual sound quality improvement justifies the cost.

BTW, regarding the flow of the music and regardless of its high price, I would have never bought the MoFi UD1S version of Santana's "Abraxas" (the series' first release, IIRC). Because of it being a 2x45 RPM LP, side A ends with "Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen" and side B starts with "Oye Cómo Va". NO! "Oye Cómo Va" MUST start right after the guitar feedback cuts off at the end of "Gypsy Queen". Having to flip the record exactly at that point is a huge no-no. This is a big, real-life example of "flow interruption" to me.

Finally, I haven't lost hope of a 2x45 RPM release of AC/DC's "If You Want Blood You've Got It" created from the original master tapes. It doesn't sound bad as is, but with 52+ minutes of audio on one single LP, I'm absolutely sure that the sound quality will give a noticeable leap with the 2LP at 45 RPM treatment. I would even consider the possibility of paying $100 if it were released as part of MoFi's UD1S series (absurd price to me as I said, but I'd really love to see this album pressed at 45 RPM).

[Solitaire]

Something to mention about "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd: In a book about the 100 Greatest Albums published by VH1, they mentioned that "Dark Side..." was an album that lost something when its two sides were made one when it was released on Compact Disc.

[Rick_Schott]

I think my Acoustic Sounds Dave Brubek Time Out was worth getting in 45 and the extra work to listen. What really baffles me is something like the repress of Gerry Rafferty City to City I got recently. It's cut on three sides of two records, no extra tracks, 33 RPM. I don't get that one.

[MrTcb]

For me Sound Quality is Everything. If there is a better sounding format available that's what I'm buying...

[stickdegato]

hope this can be taken as constructive, but you would benefit from potentially writing a script so that you can get to the point. I think that it can be hard to stay with the video at points, when there are so many other videos out there.

[everpee]

I think where the songs sits on the 33 rpm matters. The songs that are near the center dont have the same space for their grooves. The egde of the disc turns much faster than the center.So the quality could theoracally varies along the lp.

[billyelliotx]

I'd pick 45rpm for an album I really want to sit down and listen too. But more times than not it's tiring to have a couple songs each side. I almost feel they'd be better as a 3 sided 45rpm instead of spreading it over 4 sides. It's nice that it's there, but I'd hate for all audiophile pressings to move towards 45rpm only. I like how Analogue Productions gives you the choice of a 33 or 45pm version.

[tommarshall]

Cool video. I really didn't know 45 were split up into more sides. I have the first Halford on Vinyl which came as a double album and I never understood why, but it must be a 45rpm. I actually hate that it is split into 3 songs sides. I will def keep an eye out for that in the future. Appreciate the insight!

[dougrochow]

This is somewhat unrelated to your topic, but I was in a restaurant today where they had different size vinyl records on the wall. Two groups look like 45 but I could swear that one of them was actually narrower than 7 inches in diameter. Do you know if there were any smaller sized vinyl records ever created

[hubbandtheheavyhearts]

I'm releasing an "EP" album of 5 songs (about 19min play time) and am wondering if it's best to use a 12" 45 ? Thoughts and opinions?