Noise of Vinyl Records: On How Much Phono-Amp SN is Needed?

Abstract

It is hard to get precise figures on the headline’s topic. Several sources1 claim that SNs range from −60 to −70 dB(A) for 33 1/3 LP records and −63 to −73 dB(A) for 45 Single or Maxi records, both with reference to a peak velocity of 8 cm/s/1 kHz. This is equal to an rms velocity of 5.66 cm/s/1 kHz. In addition, SNs of records heavily depend on the manufacturing process as well as on the vinyl material itself. Today, only three vinyl production companies exist worldwide in USA, in France and in Japan. The chemical formulae of the materials are the big secrets and they are the basic responsible factors for the noise of the records on the market - besides noisy phono-amps, of course.