DYNAMIC RANGE FORMAT COMPARISONS

ALL ARE APPROXIMATE.

Human ear: Dynamic range = 100 dB. Frequency response = 20 Hz to 20 kHz. SACD: Dynamic range = 110 dB. Frequency response = 0 Hz to 20 kHz. DVD: Dynamic range = 100 dB. Frequency response = 0 Hz to 20 kHz. CD / DAT: Dynamic range = 90 dB. Frequency response = 0 Hz to 20 kHz. MiniDisc: Dynamic range = 85 dB. Frequency response = 0 Hz to 20 kHz. 12-inch vinyl LP: Dynamic range = 20 dB. Frequency response = 50 Hz to 22 kHz. 7-inch 45: Dynamic range = 20 dB. Frequency response = 50 Hz to 12 kHz. (Usually were either vinyl, shellac, or polystyrene.) TV / hi-fi VHS / FM radio: Dynamic range = 60 dB. Frequency response = 20 Hz to 15 kHz. (NOTE: Ordinary non-hi-fi VHS sounds only about as good as a normal cassette.) Metal cassette (Type IV): Dynamic range = 65 dB (with Dolby B = 70 dB; with Dolby C = 80 dB.) Frequency response = 20 Hz to 18 kHz. (The tape is layered with fine metal particles. Sounds excellent, but is somewhat abrasive on tape heads. Also tends to snap easily.) Ferrochrome cassette (Type III): (This mixture of metal and chrome oxide particles was an experimental format that never caught on. Went the way of the eight-track cartridge. By the way, there is a Type 0 too, that is likewise disappearing. It is similar to normal tape in formula, but apparently has some problems.) Chrome cassette (Type II): Dynamic range = 60 dB (with Dolby B = 65 dB; with Dolby C = 75 dB * see note). Frequency response = 20 Hz to 16 kHz. (Formulated of a substance derived from chrome, which is then mixed with iron rust particles. A fine compromise between great sound and tape head-friendliness.) Ferric (Normal) cassette (Type I): Dynamic range = 55 dB (with Dolby B = 60 dB; with Dolby C = 70 dB * see note). Frequency response = 20 Hz to 14 kHz. (Made with ferric oxide - the rust that comes from iron. Sound quality is acceptable; material is very easy on tape heads.) MP3: Dynamic range = 20 dB (most people dont utilize this full range they heavily compress). Frequency response = 50 Hz to 12 kHz. AM radio: Dynamic range = 30 dB. Frequency response = 50 Hz to10 kHz. Typical home stereo speaker: Dynamic range = 90 dB. Frequency response = 80 Hz to 15 kHz. Typical computer speaker: Dynamic range = 70 dB. Frequency response = 200 Hz to 10 kHz.

NOTES ABOUT DYNAMIC RANGE

Most popular music releases are compressed to about 20 to 30 dB, regardless of the dynamic range the format is capable of handling. With vinyl LPs, this was done because of mechanical and nolise limitations of the medium. Excessive dynamic energy made the stylus jump out of the LPs grooves. Therefore, stereos that were made to play LPs were designed to handle no more than this narrow dynamic range. Anything more would have been unnecessary. Today, several formats are capable of HUGE dynamic ranges, yet most stereo systems still have narrow dynamic range capability. Why? Cost and size. A wide dynamic range stereo is costly and its speakers are often as large as a person. Most listeners, as a result, have become so accustomed to hearing highly-compressed music that most will be turned off by recordings with naturalsounding dynamics. Audiophiles are listeners who have become accustomed to hearing uncompressed recordings or live acoustic music performances. They are turned off by recordings with compressed dynamics and theyre willing to pay for the expensive and large stereos that can handle the wide dynamic range of uncompressed recordings. Major commercial TV and radio stations routinely compress their broadcasts to less than 10 dB. This is done to make their station sound as loud as the competition; and to keep their volume level steady so listeners dont have to constantly adjust their radios. They use multiband compression to keep the sound from getting too smeared. A multiband compressor isolates the bass, midrange and treble portions of a sound and compresses each band separately so nothing gets more treatment than it needs. Generally, bass is compressed fairly heavily, midrange to a lesser degree, and treble very slightly if at all. This is all followed by an overall limiter, which prevents anything from getting through above FCC mandated modulation limits.