Blue Note reissues


I became a serious vinyl convert less than a year ago and ever since have been buying records regularly to enlarge my collection. I listen almost exclusively to jazz and buy new reissues of jazz releases, most of them on Blue Note, but also Prestige, Riverside and Columbia.

To say that I am disappointed by the quality of the vinyl is an understatement. Virtually every record is warped, which I can live with, reluctantly. A bigger problem is the distortion that becomes more and more prevalent on reissues. It's a short buzzing sound, which sounds kind of like the sound of lost airwaves on the radio but higher in pitch. I know it's not my cart as I have records that sound perfect, and it's in the the same spot on faulty records so it must be a quality issue with transfer and manufacture.
I also own quite a few used original pressings or old reissues and none of them have a similar defect, which leads me to believe that it is a current problem with quality control. It is extremely frustrating as I've spent thousands of dollars on my rig and record cleaning machine only to spin warped records that sound distorted.

I know this topic has been discussed many times here on A-gon but I would actually like to do something about it. I know many designers and manufacturers read the forum, but it seems not record companies' reps as it's not getting any better. As a community of many thousands who pay a lot of money to indulge in our hobby and passion, I think we should be able to exert some level of pressure on companies like Blue Note to release products of high quality. I'm open to ideas and suggestions. Where I could, I emailed the record company, but Blue Note for example has not contact info at all. Also, I'm afraid single emails won't do much.
actusreus

Showing 1 response by dougdeacon

Actusreus,

I've no experience with the cheapie Blue Note reissues, but the sound you described is consistent with pressing voids, which are caused when the vinyl plug and mold are not up to temperature when pressed. The vinyl can't flow into all the groove modulations and literally leaves a void (gap) between vinyl and stamper wall. It sounds exactly as you described:
It's a short buzzing sound, which sounds kind of like the sound of lost airwaves on the radio but higher in pitch.
Pressing voids occur more often on the L channel (inner groove wall) than the R (outer), but can occur in either.

Typical flaw resulting from a rushed manufacturing process.