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Why are records still warped?

This is more of a grouse than anything because I know the molding process won't ever be perfect. Still, here we are in the 21st century in the midst of a vinyl revival. Artists get it and are trying to satisfy us geeks with tasty pressings.

Cases in point are Bennett & Gaga's "Cheek to Cheek" and Lennox' "Nostalgia." Ordered both of them in (live in the sticks so no local source) and one dished, the other warped. Neither are unplayable, but both conditions are audible. Disappointing to say the least on such outstanding efforts.

The same week they arrived, I got copies of Hampton's "Silver Vibes" (mono) and Mendes' "Look Around" used at a swap meet. Perfectly flat with outstanding fidelity, especially considering their age.

Many of my "not" Golden-era pressings from the mid-70s through late-80s also lived up to expectations when I got them home. Many more did not, and that's why I ended up jumping on the CD bandwagon with a Sony CDP-101 in 1983.

In 2015, my digital playback deck is about 1000% better, CDs are better, SACDs are even better still, HD downloads can be superb, but still none of them best vinyl at its best. Unless it's warped.

We have the technology, know better and can better control the process. So, what is up with the warp thing? Is it laziness, budget or what?!?
effischer

Showing 8 responses by raymonda

raymonda
855 posts
 
About 50 to 65 percent of the new vinyl I purchase is either warped, dished or has some sort of serious flaw. I buy a lot of vinyl and find it disconcerting at best. This seems to be the trend and increasing of the past 3 years. I've been buying vinyl for over 45 years.

I now only buy from a vendor which accepts returns because of this problem.
raymonda
855 posts
 
Well, I guess they made roller coaster better back in the day. Of course it is a system that is plagued with potential issues.....we all know that....but it is not an excuse for the poor quality control that is being pushed out today when compared with years past.

The biggest frustration is that taking warps, dish issues and at times poor pressings a side today's pressing would sound significantly better than yesterday's records. Sometimes it just takes returning a bad copy over and over again until a clean copy is found.

If consumers are as diligent as I am it won't take long before the pressing plants are force to improve their QC...or else they will be losing money.

My fear is that they will abandon it due profit margins, as well as the consumer due to frustration with bad sound.

BTW.....now is the time to buy used cd s. ...they can be had for a dollar...or so.
raymonda
855 posts
 
Barnes and Noble now carries vinyl. Yes, they have limited stock but you can order any label from them and return it for an exchange if not satisfied.
raymonda
855 posts
 
Just bought two new vinyl albums yesterday. Nora Jones and Diana Krall. Nora's album is an 180 gram album and slightly warped with some pressing, surface noise but not too bad. The other is my second try at Diana Krall's Wall Flower, which sounds fantastic......very quiet.....but terribly dished and some surface noise on side 4. I can make them playable with my center and ring clamp but not completely flat and it requires extra work from my cartridge. This was the same issue as my first copy, however, side 4 of the first copy was unlistenable.

So, 2 albums and both were not at the standard they should be. Back in the 70's and 80's I never had this type of consistent problems with albums. I'll keep these albums instead of returning them, since I bought them while visiting a city 75 miles away. If they were purchased locally they would be returned....yet again.

Because of this posting I think I might actually start making a spread sheet indicating where the albums were pressed, problems with the vinyl and return rate. To say the least, I find all this a very sad commentary on the state of affairs of new vinyl.
raymonda
855 posts
 
I have plenty of 180's and 200's that are flat. That is not to say that there is an advantage of heavy over thin but the real issue is poor QC.
raymonda
855 posts
 
Great question lowrider.
raymonda
855 posts
 
I am not making up anything and speak the truth from my experience. Also, if you read my post....I do return them but then I get another with issues. This is a problem I've noticed 5 hat has increased with frequency over the past 16 months, or so.

BTW.....I use a Michell clamp and a TTW ring.
raymonda
855 posts
 
I bought the "White album" and it had the most extreme dish of any album I have ever purchased. Out side of that, however, it played well.
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