Record Sizes

Record Sizes

Vinyl records also come in three standard diameters: 7-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch. The larger the diameter, the longer the groove can be and the greater the possible playing times, dependent upon rotational speed. (The actual playing time is a ratio between speed and the length of the grooves.)

What’s the difference between 33 45 and 78 records?

78s hold about five minutes of music, while 33s hold up to approximately 20 minutes. 78 RPM records have a faster RPM speed than both 33 and 45 RPM records. 78s have wider grooves than vinyl records, which means that the stylus also needs to be wider. 78 RPM records are mono and are only heard through one channel.

What are different record sizes?

Vinyl records typically come in three speeds: 33, 45 and 78 rotations per minute (RPM). 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.

What size is a 45 record?

The most common form of the vinyl single is the “45” or “7-inch”. The names are derived from its play speed, 45 rpm (revolutions per minute), and the standard diameter, 7 inches.

Are most vinyl 33 or 45?

This is the paradox of the vinyl record’s set size. Most analog listeners agreed that they could sacrifice some sound quality for more music per disk, making the 45 RPM format the most widely used.

What happens if you play a 45 record at 33?

It is because the grooves will be moving faster when they are played back than if they were to play at 33 rpm. They are sure that if you keep doing this, eventually, these grooves will lose their shape and become unreadable.

Can you play a 7-inch vinyl on any record player?

All record players do not play every single size of vinyl record. All record players will play the two most common sizes of vinyl record, those being 12-inch and 7-inch, but it is far less likely they will be able to play a 10-inch record.

Can you play 78 records on a modern turntable?

Answer: Yes, Audio-Technica’s popular AT-LP120-USB and AT-LP1240-USB turntables will allow the platter to play at the 78 RPM speed. But the correct speed is only part of the solution – a proper 78 RPM stylus should also be used when playing 78 RPM records on your turntable.

Are 45 records worth anything?

Rock and roll and R&B 45s with the cardboard sleeves are worth at least $20, with many being worth more than $200. First pressings of albums have more value than second, third, or subsequent pressings. They are referred to as the “originals” that were purchased when the record first hit the charts.

What is the normal vinyl size?

The most common sizes are seven, 10, and 12 inches in diameter, but size isn’t the only way to identify what kind of vinyl record you have. A better way to group these discs and tell them apart is the speed (in revolutions per minute, or RPM) at which they spin while playing on a turntable.

What size is a normal vinyl record?

Understanding the Vinyl Record Size Chart

There are three common record sizes to correspond with the three speeds: 12-inch: Twelve inches is the standard diameter for full albums, generally holding up to 22 minutes per side. These records run at 33-1/3 RPM.

What is a 33 vinyl record?

The 45 was smaller than the 33; it was a 7-inch record, while the 33 was 10 or 12. They also varied in speed – the 33 was slower than the 45. 45 records were more popular than the 33s because of LPs. They allowed for full album versions instead of more individual songs per side.

What are 78 records?

Any flat disc record, made between about 1898 and the late 1950s and playing at a speed around 78 revolutions per minute is called a “78” by collectors. The materials of which discs were made and with which they were coated were also various; shellac eventually became the commonest material.

What size is a 33 record?

Generally speaking, all of the records that you would see down in a local record store (or a Barnes and Noble) are 33 RPM, 12-inch releases. There are some examples of 45 RPM records in the 12” form factor. They are often part of audiophile pressings or special releases.

Are 78 records valuable?

“The early blues material from the ’20s and ’30s is the hottest material of all,” Mr. Tefteller said in a phone interview. He said that on average a rare jazz 78 might sell for $1,500 to $5,000, whereas sales for a comparable blues record would start at $5,000.

Why are some 12-inch records 45 RPM?

The 12-inch single variation first appeared during the disco era in the 1970s. Generally cut at 45 RPM, they feature wider groove spacing and shorter playing time compared to LPs, which permits a broader dynamic range or louder recording level (among other benefits.

Sophia Al-Mansoor
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Sophia Al-Mansoor

Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.