I give up on new vinyl

Just posted this in response to another forum question:

I am lucky enough to own all the MFSL 1 Step Ultradisc, they are all outstanding. Personal favorite is Bill Evans Trio - Sunday Night At The Village Vanguard. I am transported to the venue and the sound of Bill Evan playing live when I listen to this LP. At a more affordable price the Rob Wasserman - Duets LP is extremely good sonically and music wise, very enjoyable. Finally one more LP that will convince you just how good vinyl playback has become; Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest. beautiful music and an amazing recording/pressing.

Sure, setting up a TT and keeping it running properly is hard work. Bit of a PITA occasionally. Similarly looking after LPs and avoiding damage is challenging. But, when all is well and the stars are properly aligned, sheer bliss. Enjoy the hobby/music!

I gave up on local Vinyl over 35 years ago. Mostly garbage.

Since then and for 35 years, I buy only Japanese pressings.....

It's always a crap shoot to some degree, but I've generally found new vinyl sounds excellent.  If I wasn't get a high ratio of good condition/sound to stinkers, I certainly wouldn't be amassing the amount of vinyl I currently do.


I just cracked open my Police box set collection and the quality is jaw dropping.  Pristine, silent wax and incredible sound quality.

I think even though the vinyl is new as Whart says, it may not be as clean as you think or hope it to be.

I now clean any new vinyl before playing with same regime as older used records I purchase.

Cannot say as I have really suffered any pops or clicks etc but a couple have been just poor SQ in general.

However the vast majority I have purchased new have been more than satisfactory to my ears.

Yep, some, or a lot of new pressings are a crap shoot. Was playing Sade Promise LP I bought in the PX in the 80’s, and sounds wonderful. Wife asked if it was an audiophile pressing, said nope, only a $6.95 PX special back then. She was shocked. I have purchased some Barnes and Nobles specials, Chris Isaak and Queen, , for example, and they sound great too. Not special, but a B&N special,,,hmm, is B&N sourcing records from top notch manufacturers and distribution and rebranding? On the other hand, some Audiophile new pressings, like Santana and his new duet with someone, you can tell I forgot that one fast because the recording sucks, was just awful. It’s sounds tinny, screatchy, and compressed, like the audio from Sirius XM in my Shelby, outside the exhaust of course. 

I am reluctant to jump on current Audiophile box sets until an early adopter gets one and posts reviews for others to hear about. Hmmm, LED Zeppelin Mothership was another hyped Audiophile pressing mess, only played once. You immediately get a sense of the recording if it is good or not after dropping the needle and hearing the first voice. 

Pops are inherent to vinyl; however, can be mitigated by ultrasonic or wet cleaning record and using anti static brush, and that zappy anti static tool. The better the tonearm and cartridge combination, the better it is at damping some clicks. I know we all use MOFI antistatic sleaves after cleaning our records too, right.