33 45 and 78 rpm represents the speed at which the record spins on your turntable.
Why different rpm vinyl.
As it turns out the height of the great depression was not the ideal time to launch an expensive novel consumer technology.
But hollywood exerted its influence in a different way.
Jerry shafer has covered everything except the 16.
The fidelity possible at 78 rpm could now be had at a much slower speed 33 1 3.
Additionally longer wavelengths smaller angles in the grooves and the less complicated geometry at 45 rpm help to cut very precise grooves with very fine detail.
If you re like most record lovers you ve probably flipped speeds from time to time in order to hear your music faster or slower than normal.
But the record manufacturers felt the fickle public then deserting the phonograph in favor of a newer novelty the radio would be put off by the cost of converting from 78 to 33 1 3.
Once vinyl took over for the next few decades all domestic record players had four speeds.
So let me complete that.
Vinyl records come in numerous speeds that impact playback and compatibility.
It s a funny little experiment but what are there three different speeds to begin with.
Most turntables can play 33s and 45s while 78s require a certain kind of stylus and motor speed.
The higher the rpm the greater the length of vinyl picked up by the stylus and ultimately the more accurate our sound reproduction becomes.
Each not only has a very specific reasoning behind the speed but the state of technology at the time of invention has much to do with the playback speed as well.
Anyone who s as old as this reporter will recall they had 78 4.