What's the frequency response of vinyl?

A phono cartridge has no problem reproducing signal well below 20 Hz, and that can be a big problem. Both the playback and recording turntables have some "rumble" (LF noise from the bearing) and LPs also can be warped. Many phono preamps have a deliberate roll off below 20 Hz so as to minimize this signal, which would needlessly use amplifier power and cause woofer cones to "pump" in and out with adverse effect on the higher frequencies. Most rumble is vertical groove modulation, and better rumble filters cut this component of the signal, starting at a higher frequency like 30 Hz, without drastic effect on the horizontal groove modulation signal. Little is lost when this type of rumble filter is used because records are usually cut without any LF vertical groove modulation because less-than-audiophile cartriges might hop right out of the groove. Another way of saying this is that LP bass is mono, which is certainly OK for people who use a single subwoofer.

Check this out;

RIAA Curve

"A record is cut with the low frequencies reduced and the high frequencies boosted, and on playback the opposite occurs. The result is a flat frequency response, but with noise such as hiss and clicks arising from the surface of the medium itself much attenuated. The other main benefit of the system is that low frequencies, which would otherwise cause the cutter to make large excursions when cutting a groove, are much reduced, so grooves are smaller and more can be fitted in a given surface area, yielding longer playback times"

Dear Gnugear: If we take in count what is already done on Lp recording we can say that the frequency range could be this: 8Hz to 50kHz, the 1812 recording on Telarc goes to 8Hz and the cutting machine on the recording goes to 50kHz: so this is the theorethical frequency range.

Now, which is the frequency range response that we normally heard at home systems?, the answer is a complex one because there are several factors that define that frequency response range: the recording it self, the cartridge, the phonolinepreamp, amplifier, speakers and room interaction.

The whole frequency range response never was/is a problem with the analog reproduction recordings: we have all the " music " frequency range like in a live event.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

google RIAA frequncy curves, etc. mono stereo....its limited by our ears

Here I am again quoting Poaul Ladegaard.Anyway the 8hz resonance is due to the rubbish that exists in the vinyl groove at about the 3-4hz level,so there is your real limitation to the bass end.The Sheffield discs indeed did go out to 50Khz and Stereophile's John Atkinson found that most commercial vinyl seems to extend typically out to about 35Khz most days.