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New Re-Issue Vinyl: Surface Noise, Ticks, Pops....

It seems that paying an average of 30.00 to get new 180-200 gram pressings is a lot of money. And I don't mind paying it for a good clean pressing. But is seems as though I usually end up with surface noise , crackling, pops etc.. It is so frustrating to wait for records to come and when I play them I hear a record that sounds like I bought it in a used record store. Has anyone ever mentally kept track of what interent distributor seems to have the noisiest or cleanest vinyl? Or perhaps the pressing company/label? Do you clean them before you play to clean the releasing agent or play them right out of the jacket? I love the sound of the grooves and I believe the sound is better but, I just would like to have a good clean copy. Am I wrong to expect a tick and pop free copy?
Back in the early days I usually didn't get the surface noise till I played them a few times. That was cheaper vinyl and about 4-5 bucks.
128x128theo

Showing 2 responses by photon46

photon46
1,076 posts
 
I think we vinyl consumers are pretty much out on a limb with no where to turn when it comes to quality vinyl. Unless I'm mistaken, RTI is the only record pressing plant left in the USA. There's so much demand for their services, production schedules keep getting pushed back for new releases. Not a scenario that is likely to result in improvements. I've been very disappointed in the quality of new vinyl releases as well. Pretty much much every one I've bought over the last year from a variety of labels has at least one side that's unacceptably marred by tics, pops, and swooshes. I absolutely clean all new albums on my NItty Gritty before playing them.
photon46
1,076 posts
 
Audiofeil takes great delight in being a curmudegeon about gear he deems subar. That's ok, it's part of his charm. However, I think he's deviating from a sensible viewpoint if he really believes what he says. Sure, better cartridges and tables reduce the intrusive nature of surface noise. However, if you tell me I've got to buy specific tables and cartidges to be able to enjoy vinyl, it seems we've reached a point where we're blaming the victim. Like some of you, I've been buying vinyl for 40 years, so I have a pretty good perspective of what quality of vinyl one can or should expect. When I'm spending what new vinyl costs these days, pardon me if I'd like to get quality pressings. From my experience buying thousands of lps over my life, I'd say there was a period at the end of vinyl era just prior to the cd when lp quality was a problem. Otherwise, the recent crop of releases I've bought exhibit more frequent issues than at any time in the past.
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