Noisy vinyl from Classic Records


I love Classic Records reissues with their heavy vinyl etc. But the last 2 I purchased-both from Norah Jones on 200 gram vinyl-have occasional noise in the left channel only. It sounds like splashing and happens for only a second or so, and happens a few times on 1 side only. It doesnot happen on the other sides or my other records. The needle is clean and so is the record. I think it might be damaged. I havent returned it or complained. Any thoughts or similar problems? Thanks.
tbromgard

Showing 2 responses by larryi

Most of the Classic records I've bought have a mild to substantial dish warp, and many suffer from excessive surface noise. The dish warp and swishing or crackling noise in one channel is usually caused by an insufficiently long pressing cycle. Thick vinyl is harder to press -- the record has to be heated longer and the cooldown has to be longer too. If the vinyl isn't given the full time to flow and form completely around the pressing die, noise is the result -- often primarily in one channel. I also dislike thick records because they screw up proper vertical tracking angle. I have yet to find a heavy vinyl record that demonstrates any superiority to some of the better, thin, Japanese pressings.

There may be hope for Classic Records. I have a few clear vinyl records that are well pressed (not the 45 rpm "Clarity" records). A friend collects the Clarity records, and those are terrific sounding pressings too.
When a record is pressed, a small biscuit of vinyl is placed on the stamper and under pressure it oozes out to the edge. If this flow is not perfect, a condition, often referred to as non-fill, can result in noisy records. Typically the noise is at the beginning of the record, and often it affects one channel more than the other. It can sound like a lot of crackling or a tearing sort of sound (if severe).

I've heard mild forms of this on some Classic Records.