I do not believe QC is as good today as it was during the period of peak vinyl.
Without getting into the subjective stuff, I’ve never opened a still in shrink record from the 70’s and found a major pressing defect—which afflict around 5% of the new records I buy today.
I encounter more intrinsically noisy discs among brand new records than among my old records (excluding everything pre-1965 or so, which frequently have been ruined by playback on awful equipment).
I can kind of answer some of this:
Many of the pressing plants that US brokers use (see: pirate press/GZ) has an issue with "vinyl dust". This has been a thing since people first started using GZ and will always be. You kind of have to wet wash all new vinyl, especially if you can feel that "dust".
Second issue is built up static. There have been so many plants that opened in the last few years and they're all using the same machines (after many decades of new machines being a myth, we now have two companies that are selling them). These machines seem to leave records with a lot of static buildup. I don't know why, I don't think anyone else does either. But the plant I just used is a friend's and I had to tell him about it. Obviously it's just gonna pick up dust and debris anywhere it goes unless you clean it and do something to make it not... a static ball.
>Second issue is built up static.
I have noticed this quite a bit on newer records. I have a felt platter mat that came with my turntable, and it will actually stick to some newer records when I remove them from the turntable, due to static cling.
Actually had an issue a couple of weeks ago where I made the mistake of opening a new record after my dog had been playing in my lap. The static from the new record sucked the dog hair right off of me and onto the record surface. Then when I tried to brush it off with my soft brush, it just ended up sticking to the other side instead. Eventually had to clean the record to get the dog hair off of it. Fun times.
I too have the felt platter mat that came with my turntable and it sticks to so many new records due to the static cling. Don't know if it is even fixable or if I should just bite the bullet and get a cork or acrylic mat.
Get a spin doctor or a cheap ultra sonic. Use distilled water.
I think vinyl is just prone to static- especially when new. The paper insulates it so it takes forever to discharge. (Guessing)
I think your guess could well be right to be honest. I took one record out of it's sleeve the other day and it was as though it was glued to the inside. It felt like it might be static and the record was brand new. Unfortunately there were minor scuff marks on the vinyl because of this but it still played OK apart from a few hisses.
This is why I tear the cheap paper protectors off instead of pulling the record out. Either that or if it’s a nicer paper sleeve with artist artwork etc then I push down on the record while standing it upright so the sleeve pops open, look inside to make sure neither side is touching the paper, and carefully roll the record out slowly while adjusting as it rolls out so that it still doesn’t touch the paper as it comes out. It takes a bit more time but I noticed few records that had unsightly af scratches from simply pulling them out and this system keeps them looking absolutely perfect. Then pop em into an inner sleeve after brushing them/cleaning them if there’s excess paper dust or plastic dust etc and never worry again
A few do. Cold Busted usually ship out of sleeve and have the vinyl inside a nice inner sleeve that doesn’t scratch. Joe hisaishis stuff *used* to always be shipped with inner sleeves but after the last releases they came in paper sleeves and a disgusting pvc sleeve that makes me kinda wonder why. I think big labels think of it like “no one gives a shit about tiny barely visible scratches right?” And most Taylor swift suitcase record player type fans truly don’t. But some companies realize there’s a large group of us that spazz out over scratches and want to keep our collection as perfect as possible. I’ve tried to not care as much but damn is it saddening to pull a new record out expecting it to shine under the lamp just to see a shit ton of scratches; playback affected or not.
THIS. I've found new vinyl to still be pretty static-y even if they come in decent sleeves. Still prefer it, but for the reason you bring up... cheap paper sleeves, or fancier cardstock ones can scuff a brand new record just from taking it out that first time, made worse by the fact it's glued in there by all the static!
Either way, once I extract a new disc it goes through my cheap ultrasonic and into a new poly sleeve. This gets rid of 90% of new-disc static for me. Between a carbon brush (setting it around on the record, not brushing) and just resting on a shelf between older records, the rest will eventually disperse.
Of course some discs are just noisy pressings, but it shouldn't be ALL of them like OP is experiencing... it's probably mostly static.
Not having bought vinyl in the 80s/90s I can only compare to any other media holding disc I’ve ever bought: vinyl QC seems to be rather sloppy.
Of the last 10 records I bought brand new:
- 4 had bigger scratches
- 1 was missing an entire record
- two were warped
I agree, album doesn't matter.
I'd be interested to know who's listed as the "pressed by" in discogs - cause I'm getting real fucking tired of buying new records that are warped, especially when they're 180s.
Only fair I give you some examples:
dogwater pressings: Archers of Loaf - Icky Mettle, and All the Nations Airports. Mergerecords. Both albums severely warped and Merge refused to replace.
good: Quality Record Pressings - child of Acoustic Sounds. high quality and flat.
Rainbo records - they press lots of shit, but they pressed several Joy Division albums I have. Top tier. flat as a pane of glass.
could it be static charge on your stylus? I've had that before, and the[ Milty static gun ](https://www.google.ca/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=milty+static+gun)works on both records and the turntable itself (power off your amplifier first)
Clean your stylus every time you put on a new LP.... takes seconds. Even with an ultrasonic cleaner and anti-static gun, my stylus still gets gunk on it.
Maybe a decade ago, I noticed that all my new records would pop loudly, though when I would replay the same passage, there would be no pop. I also noticed it happened more during the colder (dryer) Winter months. I deduced it could be static electricity accumulated on the record.
I first got a carbon fiber brush and that seemed to make a small difference, but not enough. But a combination of two things actually stopped all the loud static pops on new records:
1. Got a stylus that has a tiny carbon fiber brush that clears dust and static just ahead of the needle. This has the benefit of cleaning the dust off used records, too!
2. Got a cork slipmat. I had doubts about that one, but it really made a difference with the static as well.
If your pops always occur in the same spot, that's just bad quality control, but if the pops don't repeat in the very same spot, static could be the culprit.
Same here. Squeaky clean records galore. Besides regional differences, because of different plants, could it also matter if it is a record of which thousands upon thousands are pressed, compared to lower volume releases?
No, I don't think that makes a difference.
I have two records - both in the range of 100 copies. One on black vinyl, one on clear vinyl. The black one has definitely some noise while the clear one is brutally dead silent.
It's mostly a quality control thing.
Great advice. I do this every time I'm buying something new. I started doing that with old stuff too because I have a couple of really bad pressings from the 70's.
I got banded for a week after asking a similar question when a newly purchased vinyl jumped 🙄
I returned it and the seller agreed it was probably a defect in the pressing process.
Agree with u/TurkGonzo75. I only use distilled water + a nylon brush or goats hair - they're firm enough to dig shit out but soft enough to not scratch.
Personally, I stay away from carbon fiber brushes for dry cleaning. The fibers can fall off (even on the 'quality' audioquest ones), and when they get stuck in the groove, they're an absolute motherfucker to get out.
That could be the culprit. I agree with your original statement. There are tons of new pressings out there with a lot of crackle and pop. But you could be making it worse with that cleaning product. Try some water and see if that helps. Even filtered water if you don't feel like getting distilled. Not a lot either. Just enough to give the dust something to latch onto.
My experience is different. A few times I've had issues with quality control, but it's quite rare. How many records are you using as a test sample here? I buy around 20 Records per month and have been doing that for a couple years. I rarely have any issues. I don't wash my records like many here and have almost zero issues like you're having. Perhaps it's your gear or environment and not the records?
New vinyl sucks! I've got vi yo from the sixties and seventies that are very quiet. And the edges are really smooth. Not today's, unless you spend good money...and then you gotta get lucky still.
What are you buying? Major label vinyl releases often have little to no quality control, and are in it for the money. The chance that there’s anyone who gets their five to ten test pressings, and takes the time to listen to all of them on different systems for consistent flaws, where independent labels are often making smaller pressings and are greatly focused on quality. Also, you’ll never see them sold in Walmart, Target, Barnes and Noble. What I’m saying is, know what you’re buying and from who.
Clearly you’ve never run an independent label. I have, and you absolutely need to be on top of everything if you want to deliver the best product possible. If you press major label material, you know you already have a built in market, and you just need to get the music on wax, and get it out the door as quickly as possible. Independent labels do not have that luxury and often have much higher quality control.
Independent labels often start as a passion project, and if they endure, they can become profitable. I only know three people who’ve gone on to profit from their labels; which includes employing others, and even providing insurance for their employees. The youngest of them being 13 years old and the longest running being 25 years old. They all had day jobs when they began. Some still do, and all of us seem to have begun for similar reasons. Love of music, working in record stores, knowing people who were older than us who were running independent labels when we were kids going to shows. For some it can become profitable. For me, I’ve always had my real job, and I sank money into something because I loved it. I created relationships with pressing plants and distributors all over the world. It was great fun but my goal was just to get it to the point where it could sustain itself and not make me have to keep going out of pocket. My label ran from 1998 until about 2020. My partner and I folded up shop and are currently onto another venture that will involve records, but will include other art objects, publications, etc…
It’s not easy but if you love it you’ll do it. Also, when you have a revenue stream, you can do something and not worry about the pressures of it becoming profitable.
You clearly didn’t read at all. I never got into it to turn a profit, I’ve been been buying music for record stores since I was 18 until I was 34. Then I got into the business of importing and distributing wine. The record label for me was a way to get music out there that generally isn’t a thing that will make you wealthy. It’s mostly sound collage, field recordings, tape manipulation, etc… real niche stuff. If you know labels like Ideologic, Editions Mego, Urashima, Gnarled Forest, etc… then you’d understand that these are all people who know they’ll never get a gold record, and couldn’t possibly care less. So it’s no less viable. The owner of a metal label called Nuclear War Now just bought a pressing plant so he could have more control over the output and not have to wait in live behind unnecessary reissues of Bare Trees. Dais Records started small run by two friends and now they’re quite profitable, but more importantly, they’re able to handle the legacy of artists with the precision and care that they deserve. So some are “real businesses” and others are, as you put it, long running hobbies. I always knew that I didn’t want the pressures of trying to pay my bills supporting artists because I’d have to get behind things that I didn’t personally believe in. Where as with wine I can support farmers and agriculture, and the product has a much broader market.
I see by looking at your profile that you’re talking about Offspring and Rammstein. These are major label releases. Essentially basic b**** music. It’s okay if you’re basic. Just don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of things when you clearly do not.
Warping, sure. But I actually only have one or two that have a little more noise (either not a quality pressing in general or end of the run on the plate). Most of new newer records sound pretty clean.
I have a low number of new records, but so far I've had really good results with Blue Note records and most of my other new purchases, but then I had three new records from the Domino label that had a disappointing number of pops throughout the record. Ultrasonic cleaning didn't help, either.
My 45 RPM copy of ‘Face Value’ from Analogue Productions had some popping at times but once I used the Spin Clean on it, the pops went away. My 45 RPM copy of ‘Brothers In Arms’ from Mofi, however, was basically perfect.
anything from Dead Oceans especially colored presses are terrible for this. Check discogs reviews of their popular records from Japanese Breakfast, Khruangbin, Phoebe Bridgers and you'll see lots of people reporting issues.
The plain black pressings seem to be more reliable and usually a little cheaper. But I personally avoid everything from Dead Oceans after some bad experiences- and make sure to read Discogs reviews whenever possible on new pressings.
the worst I've ever been scammed was this pressing of Windowlicker where the entire A Side is unlistenable from distortion. Warp and Turntable Lab should be ashamed for even selling this garbage
https://www.discogs.com/release/8635690-Aphex-Twin-Windowlicker
And/or dish warps. And/or gouges, especially when they use scratchy cardboard inner sleeves for some reason. I've seen it all. I've even had new vinyl where the damn spindle hole was too small. I had to wrap a scrap of sandpaper around a pencil to widen it. Ridiculous.
The QC on new vinyl is a joke, period. And to top it off, ever higher prices. I won't buy it anymore. Tired of being taken advantage of. Only vintage vinyl now.
Hate to say it, but it's pretty clear CDs are a better overall proposition than new vinyl nowadays. Especially for 90s and 2000s albums where you can probably get a used CD for $3 rather than spending $30 - $50 on a vinyl reissue.
huh.. I've bought dozens of new records, Taytay, Shakira, J. Lo, Ariana.. (guess my age?!) as well as re-presses of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc. unplugged
none of them had any issues.. and I didn't even wash them. 😱
I completely agree with you. I have a degritter which is about as good as it gets for record cleaners. Every record I buy - even new ones - goes straight into the degritter. I get more pops and clicks out of new records than I do most used ones. The QC these days sucks.
Modern lps are more substantial at 180g. They’re nearly silent and the much punchier. They sound better. Except colored vinyl which blows. Trust me. I’m old.
I’ve noticed more brand new records with slight warping issues
Its been wild lately, local store has been noticing the same thing.
This more than the popping but I live in Florida so it’s probably just the weather.
Nope. Same problem up in the temperate Northwest US.
I do not believe QC is as good today as it was during the period of peak vinyl. Without getting into the subjective stuff, I’ve never opened a still in shrink record from the 70’s and found a major pressing defect—which afflict around 5% of the new records I buy today. I encounter more intrinsically noisy discs among brand new records than among my old records (excluding everything pre-1965 or so, which frequently have been ruined by playback on awful equipment).
QC isn’t what it used to be. This applies to EVERYTHING.
You forgot to shake your fist at the clouds.
Perhaps. But I’m not wrong.
https://preview.redd.it/zassaevcv1yc1.jpeg?width=471&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1ee09a7db20de29943ee14ad68dc4414996b5a4
I do it every morning just for good measure. I know there'll be something
https://preview.redd.it/rwid4j4sv0yc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35afbbb8ee3d9f0bf55754e8c6d97614e15e02b6
I can kind of answer some of this: Many of the pressing plants that US brokers use (see: pirate press/GZ) has an issue with "vinyl dust". This has been a thing since people first started using GZ and will always be. You kind of have to wet wash all new vinyl, especially if you can feel that "dust". Second issue is built up static. There have been so many plants that opened in the last few years and they're all using the same machines (after many decades of new machines being a myth, we now have two companies that are selling them). These machines seem to leave records with a lot of static buildup. I don't know why, I don't think anyone else does either. But the plant I just used is a friend's and I had to tell him about it. Obviously it's just gonna pick up dust and debris anywhere it goes unless you clean it and do something to make it not... a static ball.
>Second issue is built up static. I have noticed this quite a bit on newer records. I have a felt platter mat that came with my turntable, and it will actually stick to some newer records when I remove them from the turntable, due to static cling. Actually had an issue a couple of weeks ago where I made the mistake of opening a new record after my dog had been playing in my lap. The static from the new record sucked the dog hair right off of me and onto the record surface. Then when I tried to brush it off with my soft brush, it just ended up sticking to the other side instead. Eventually had to clean the record to get the dog hair off of it. Fun times.
I noticed less of this since I switched to HDPE inner sleeves.
Add a small humidifier to your listening room. This will help a lot with the static cling.
I too have the felt platter mat that came with my turntable and it sticks to so many new records due to the static cling. Don't know if it is even fixable or if I should just bite the bullet and get a cork or acrylic mat.
My cork mat is just as bad, just an FYI.
Thank you so much for letting me know! That helped me decide. I bit the bullet and just ordered an acrylic one off of Amazon. 🤞🏻 🤞🏻 🤞🏻
Happy to help!
Acrylic ftw
Yeah. I’ve gotten to the point where I wet wash any new records I buy before playing them.
This is why I’ve stopped buying new vinyl. It’s too expensive to likely come across yet another shit copy.
Get a spin doctor or a cheap ultra sonic. Use distilled water. I think vinyl is just prone to static- especially when new. The paper insulates it so it takes forever to discharge. (Guessing)
I think your guess could well be right to be honest. I took one record out of it's sleeve the other day and it was as though it was glued to the inside. It felt like it might be static and the record was brand new. Unfortunately there were minor scuff marks on the vinyl because of this but it still played OK apart from a few hisses.
This is why I tear the cheap paper protectors off instead of pulling the record out. Either that or if it’s a nicer paper sleeve with artist artwork etc then I push down on the record while standing it upright so the sleeve pops open, look inside to make sure neither side is touching the paper, and carefully roll the record out slowly while adjusting as it rolls out so that it still doesn’t touch the paper as it comes out. It takes a bit more time but I noticed few records that had unsightly af scratches from simply pulling them out and this system keeps them looking absolutely perfect. Then pop em into an inner sleeve after brushing them/cleaning them if there’s excess paper dust or plastic dust etc and never worry again
If only these record companies had a spare quarter to include actual inner sleeves…
A few do. Cold Busted usually ship out of sleeve and have the vinyl inside a nice inner sleeve that doesn’t scratch. Joe hisaishis stuff *used* to always be shipped with inner sleeves but after the last releases they came in paper sleeves and a disgusting pvc sleeve that makes me kinda wonder why. I think big labels think of it like “no one gives a shit about tiny barely visible scratches right?” And most Taylor swift suitcase record player type fans truly don’t. But some companies realize there’s a large group of us that spazz out over scratches and want to keep our collection as perfect as possible. I’ve tried to not care as much but damn is it saddening to pull a new record out expecting it to shine under the lamp just to see a shit ton of scratches; playback affected or not.
THIS. I've found new vinyl to still be pretty static-y even if they come in decent sleeves. Still prefer it, but for the reason you bring up... cheap paper sleeves, or fancier cardstock ones can scuff a brand new record just from taking it out that first time, made worse by the fact it's glued in there by all the static! Either way, once I extract a new disc it goes through my cheap ultrasonic and into a new poly sleeve. This gets rid of 90% of new-disc static for me. Between a carbon brush (setting it around on the record, not brushing) and just resting on a shelf between older records, the rest will eventually disperse. Of course some discs are just noisy pressings, but it shouldn't be ALL of them like OP is experiencing... it's probably mostly static.
I'm a big fan of the Spin Clean Record Washer. Super simple and just works!
Not having bought vinyl in the 80s/90s I can only compare to any other media holding disc I’ve ever bought: vinyl QC seems to be rather sloppy. Of the last 10 records I bought brand new: - 4 had bigger scratches - 1 was missing an entire record - two were warped
Which albums?
Why? Seems like those were random CQ issues anyway?
I agree, album doesn't matter. I'd be interested to know who's listed as the "pressed by" in discogs - cause I'm getting real fucking tired of buying new records that are warped, especially when they're 180s. Only fair I give you some examples: dogwater pressings: Archers of Loaf - Icky Mettle, and All the Nations Airports. Mergerecords. Both albums severely warped and Merge refused to replace. good: Quality Record Pressings - child of Acoustic Sounds. high quality and flat. Rainbo records - they press lots of shit, but they pressed several Joy Division albums I have. Top tier. flat as a pane of glass.
could it be static charge on your stylus? I've had that before, and the[ Milty static gun ](https://www.google.ca/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=milty+static+gun)works on both records and the turntable itself (power off your amplifier first)
That could well be worth trying as the stylus does look clean.
Clean your stylus every time you put on a new LP.... takes seconds. Even with an ultrasonic cleaner and anti-static gun, my stylus still gets gunk on it.
WOW. I just priced them up and they are very expensive.
Maybe a decade ago, I noticed that all my new records would pop loudly, though when I would replay the same passage, there would be no pop. I also noticed it happened more during the colder (dryer) Winter months. I deduced it could be static electricity accumulated on the record. I first got a carbon fiber brush and that seemed to make a small difference, but not enough. But a combination of two things actually stopped all the loud static pops on new records: 1. Got a stylus that has a tiny carbon fiber brush that clears dust and static just ahead of the needle. This has the benefit of cleaning the dust off used records, too! 2. Got a cork slipmat. I had doubts about that one, but it really made a difference with the static as well. If your pops always occur in the same spot, that's just bad quality control, but if the pops don't repeat in the very same spot, static could be the culprit.
I very rarely have/had any of these issues. Maybe a regional difference?
Same here. Squeaky clean records galore. Besides regional differences, because of different plants, could it also matter if it is a record of which thousands upon thousands are pressed, compared to lower volume releases?
No, I don't think that makes a difference. I have two records - both in the range of 100 copies. One on black vinyl, one on clear vinyl. The black one has definitely some noise while the clear one is brutally dead silent. It's mostly a quality control thing.
Always read Discogs reviews before buying. I won't buy anything if it reviews badly. But how are you cleaning your records?
Great advice. I do this every time I'm buying something new. I started doing that with old stuff too because I have a couple of really bad pressings from the 70's.
I got banded for a week after asking a similar question when a newly purchased vinyl jumped 🙄 I returned it and the seller agreed it was probably a defect in the pressing process.
You got a ban for a week, for asking a question?
Yep. I'd post the screenshot but would probably be expunged!
Best not then. Lol!
How did you clean them? I'd say a thorough wet clean is the minimum requirement with all records, new and old.
[удалено]
If it sounded worse after cleaning, you’re doing it wrong. What’d ya do?
Agree with u/TurkGonzo75. I only use distilled water + a nylon brush or goats hair - they're firm enough to dig shit out but soft enough to not scratch. Personally, I stay away from carbon fiber brushes for dry cleaning. The fibers can fall off (even on the 'quality' audioquest ones), and when they get stuck in the groove, they're an absolute motherfucker to get out.
What's your process for wet cleaning ?
What did you use to clean it? A lot cleaning products can leave a residue that makes records sound terrible. I only use distilled water and a brush.
I use a vinyl cleaner I bought from Amazon and just spray it on and then wipe the record in a clockwise direction.
That could be the culprit. I agree with your original statement. There are tons of new pressings out there with a lot of crackle and pop. But you could be making it worse with that cleaning product. Try some water and see if that helps. Even filtered water if you don't feel like getting distilled. Not a lot either. Just enough to give the dust something to latch onto.
My experience is different. A few times I've had issues with quality control, but it's quite rare. How many records are you using as a test sample here? I buy around 20 Records per month and have been doing that for a couple years. I rarely have any issues. I don't wash my records like many here and have almost zero issues like you're having. Perhaps it's your gear or environment and not the records?
New vinyl sucks! I've got vi yo from the sixties and seventies that are very quiet. And the edges are really smooth. Not today's, unless you spend good money...and then you gotta get lucky still.
That's not my experience. I've also gotten lazy and stopped wet cleaning new records that look alright and they've been fine.
What are you buying? Major label vinyl releases often have little to no quality control, and are in it for the money. The chance that there’s anyone who gets their five to ten test pressings, and takes the time to listen to all of them on different systems for consistent flaws, where independent labels are often making smaller pressings and are greatly focused on quality. Also, you’ll never see them sold in Walmart, Target, Barnes and Noble. What I’m saying is, know what you’re buying and from who.
EVERYONE is in it “for the money”. It’s almost like people are running businesses…
Clearly you’ve never run an independent label. I have, and you absolutely need to be on top of everything if you want to deliver the best product possible. If you press major label material, you know you already have a built in market, and you just need to get the music on wax, and get it out the door as quickly as possible. Independent labels do not have that luxury and often have much higher quality control.
And those independent labels operate to lose money? What happened to your label?
Independent labels often start as a passion project, and if they endure, they can become profitable. I only know three people who’ve gone on to profit from their labels; which includes employing others, and even providing insurance for their employees. The youngest of them being 13 years old and the longest running being 25 years old. They all had day jobs when they began. Some still do, and all of us seem to have begun for similar reasons. Love of music, working in record stores, knowing people who were older than us who were running independent labels when we were kids going to shows. For some it can become profitable. For me, I’ve always had my real job, and I sank money into something because I loved it. I created relationships with pressing plants and distributors all over the world. It was great fun but my goal was just to get it to the point where it could sustain itself and not make me have to keep going out of pocket. My label ran from 1998 until about 2020. My partner and I folded up shop and are currently onto another venture that will involve records, but will include other art objects, publications, etc… It’s not easy but if you love it you’ll do it. Also, when you have a revenue stream, you can do something and not worry about the pressures of it becoming profitable.
So it is basically a hobby? No profit expectations? I’m sorry, I thought we were talking about real businesses.
You clearly didn’t read at all. I never got into it to turn a profit, I’ve been been buying music for record stores since I was 18 until I was 34. Then I got into the business of importing and distributing wine. The record label for me was a way to get music out there that generally isn’t a thing that will make you wealthy. It’s mostly sound collage, field recordings, tape manipulation, etc… real niche stuff. If you know labels like Ideologic, Editions Mego, Urashima, Gnarled Forest, etc… then you’d understand that these are all people who know they’ll never get a gold record, and couldn’t possibly care less. So it’s no less viable. The owner of a metal label called Nuclear War Now just bought a pressing plant so he could have more control over the output and not have to wait in live behind unnecessary reissues of Bare Trees. Dais Records started small run by two friends and now they’re quite profitable, but more importantly, they’re able to handle the legacy of artists with the precision and care that they deserve. So some are “real businesses” and others are, as you put it, long running hobbies. I always knew that I didn’t want the pressures of trying to pay my bills supporting artists because I’d have to get behind things that I didn’t personally believe in. Where as with wine I can support farmers and agriculture, and the product has a much broader market. I see by looking at your profile that you’re talking about Offspring and Rammstein. These are major label releases. Essentially basic b**** music. It’s okay if you’re basic. Just don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of things when you clearly do not.
You seem a bit angry? Because your hobby failed financially? It’s ok to be a failure.
Warping, sure. But I actually only have one or two that have a little more noise (either not a quality pressing in general or end of the run on the plate). Most of new newer records sound pretty clean.
For the people that buy a lot of new pressings. Do you find the same issues with “audiophile” releases?
I have a low number of new records, but so far I've had really good results with Blue Note records and most of my other new purchases, but then I had three new records from the Domino label that had a disappointing number of pops throughout the record. Ultrasonic cleaning didn't help, either.
My 45 RPM copy of ‘Face Value’ from Analogue Productions had some popping at times but once I used the Spin Clean on it, the pops went away. My 45 RPM copy of ‘Brothers In Arms’ from Mofi, however, was basically perfect.
I made a similar post a few days ago and I’ve made plenty comments on other posts. Quality control has gone downhill.
anything from Dead Oceans especially colored presses are terrible for this. Check discogs reviews of their popular records from Japanese Breakfast, Khruangbin, Phoebe Bridgers and you'll see lots of people reporting issues.
I was just reading the Khruangbin reviews last week, and man they are awful
The plain black pressings seem to be more reliable and usually a little cheaper. But I personally avoid everything from Dead Oceans after some bad experiences- and make sure to read Discogs reviews whenever possible on new pressings. the worst I've ever been scammed was this pressing of Windowlicker where the entire A Side is unlistenable from distortion. Warp and Turntable Lab should be ashamed for even selling this garbage https://www.discogs.com/release/8635690-Aphex-Twin-Windowlicker
And/or dish warps. And/or gouges, especially when they use scratchy cardboard inner sleeves for some reason. I've seen it all. I've even had new vinyl where the damn spindle hole was too small. I had to wrap a scrap of sandpaper around a pencil to widen it. Ridiculous. The QC on new vinyl is a joke, period. And to top it off, ever higher prices. I won't buy it anymore. Tired of being taken advantage of. Only vintage vinyl now. Hate to say it, but it's pretty clear CDs are a better overall proposition than new vinyl nowadays. Especially for 90s and 2000s albums where you can probably get a used CD for $3 rather than spending $30 - $50 on a vinyl reissue.
As someone who bought records new in the 70s, they all had pops and clicks
Most of my new vinyl is pretty quiet actually. I don't have any complaints.
huh.. I've bought dozens of new records, Taytay, Shakira, J. Lo, Ariana.. (guess my age?!) as well as re-presses of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc. unplugged none of them had any issues.. and I didn't even wash them. 😱
I completely agree with you. I have a degritter which is about as good as it gets for record cleaners. Every record I buy - even new ones - goes straight into the degritter. I get more pops and clicks out of new records than I do most used ones. The QC these days sucks.
I agree but vinyl is so expensive that it just puts you oof.
Embrace the imperfection
Modern lps are more substantial at 180g. They’re nearly silent and the much punchier. They sound better. Except colored vinyl which blows. Trust me. I’m old.