Which sounds better, vinyl or CD? Take the test now! All CD versions have had their equalization adjusted to match the vinyl.

ABBA The Album - Vinyl+ Emulator (2018) v1.0

‘ABBA The Album - Vinyl+ Emulator (2018)’ is a CD based replica of an
original 1977 LP, with its tonal properties based on that LP. Thus, the
listener can enjoy the LP experience using modern technology absent some
of the sonic drawbacks of the vinyl system.

Tracks 1 & 4 (Eagle & Name Of The Game) were taken from ‘Abba -
The Album’ (CD). 1977, 1997. (533 980-2). Polar Music International AB.
Polydor.

Tracks 2,3,5,6,7 & 8 were taken from ‘Abba - The Album’ (CD). 1977,
1984. POLCD 282 (821 217-2). Polar Music International AB.

The main equalisation reference for the emulator was ‘Abba - The Album’
(LP). 1977. POLS 282-1 and POLS 282-2. Polar Music International AB. The
equalisation process was performed by ear in Sony Sound Forge 11.

While working on the emulator it became apparent to me that an extra
layer of equalisation existed between the master tapes and the vinyl.
These adjustments amount to the reduction of bass and treble uniquely
for each track. I also noticed that the treble fluctuated mildly on most
of the tracks. Listeners may notice that the bass on the emulator is
slightly louder and more consistent than on the LP. This is because the
bass equalisation profile has been lifted from the sonically stable 1984
CD, while the midrange and high frequencies have been taken from the
1977 LP. Thus ‘ABBA The Album - Vinyl+ Emulator (2018)’ sounds like the
LP, but with better bass and stable treble, hence the + in the name.

‘Eagle’ & ‘The Name Of The Game’ were taken from the 1997 CD,
presumably because they had been sourced from the original 1977 mix
tapes, and not the defective 1977 master used for the 1984 CD. Despite
noise reduction and compression, the 1997 version of both songs sounds
better than their equivalents on the 1984 CD.

Stuart Holloway

April 2019