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2:DECCA/RIAA/COLUMBIA
At the beginning, there used to be many different
kinds of EQ curve. In 1954, Record labels all over the
world agreed to use a single RIAA EQ curve for all
records. However, the reality is that only after 1980s,
allrecordsareactuallyusingRIAAEQcurves(justth ink,
howeasy isit toreach a singleagreement ona global
scale?Andimplementitovertheshortspaceof1‐2years?).
If the wrong EQ curve is used, the record will not sound “right.” For example: Deutsche
Grammophon’sclassicalrecordsreleasedbefore1980oftensounddryand
flat,thereasonis
becausethoseweremanufacturedusingtheDECCAEQcurve, nottheRIAAEQcurve.
Recordreleasedbefore1980:
RecordLabels
iPhonofrontEQswitch
COLUMBIA(Up)
RIAA(Middle)
DECCA(Down)
Note:ForEMIrecordsissuedinEurope,manyofthemwereusingtheDECCAEQcurve.For
EMIrecordsissuedintheUSA,manyofthemwereusingtheCOLUMBIAEQcurve,especially
theoneswhich wereoriginally producedbyCOLUMBIA/CBSbut issuedundertheEMI label
afterthemerger.
Forrecordsissuedafter1980,mostofthemareusingthestandardRIAAEQcurve.
We hopethis tutorial has helped you find more life in yourvinyl collection and ultimately,
leadtoanevengreaterlevelofmusicalenjoyment!