What is the difference between 45 rpm and 33 rpm Vinyls?

Answer 1

The 45 RPM records or vinyls sound as they were intended to sound when played at 45 revolutions per minute (at the 45 setting on a record player) while the 33 RPM records sound right at the 33 revolutions per minute speed. Then, there is the issue of size. Records that are 33 RPM are larger in diameter than 45's. Also 33's can hold more songs than 45's do. Usually, 45's have only one song on a side and were used as demo records for radio stations (yes, radio stations used to play music on records before they went to tapes and now to digital music on computers) and for releasing "singles" so that people could listen to a new band without having to pay for a whole album. 45 RPM records or vinyls are recorded at 45 revolutions per minute and are consequently played back at the same speed to achieve exact replication of the original recording. Subsequently, 33 1/3 RPMs are recorded at that speed, and played back at that speed to hear the audio as it was recorded. Generally 45s are recorded on smaller 7" disks, whereas 33 1/3s are recorded on larger, full sized 12" disks. This is not always the case, as some 12" records are recorded at 45 RPM for higher, or audiophile, sound quality.

Answer 2

The main difference between 45 rpm and 33 rpm vinyl records is the playback speed. A 45 rpm record plays at a faster speed, resulting in higher pitch and shorter playing time per side compared to a 33 rpm record. As a result, 45 rpm records are often used for singles and shorter tracks, while 33 rpm records are more commonly used for full-length albums.