Brand new vinyl - what’s acceptable to you?
I just ordered a dozen new albums - this time all 180 g variants. The Norah Jones had a scratch on it coming out of the paper sleeve the first time. (Separate gripe - why do they package ostensibly “audiophile” albums in crappy sleeves which might actually damage a record?). I’ll return the Norah Jones. But, the Miles Davis album has a noisy spot 1/4 the way through the first track. I’ll try cleaning the record but usually don’t have to for a new album. Or should I as a better practice? (This old dog can learn new habits).
Fortunately, the Pat Metheny is dead quiet - thank you ECM! All my ECM vinyl - even from decades ago are quiet. However, my experience is that ECM is very much an outlier: that most labels will come with some noise.
I’m working my way through all the albums but it made me want to poll the group: How much noise do you accept on a new pressing? Do you have a rule of thumb for what to reject?
Thanks,
I guess I should change my practice to clean before first play (maybe ECM excepted) - though I don’t have an ultrasonic cleaner - just a spin doctor. As I’m not enamored with how well it cleans, perhaps I should invest in an ultrasonic unit. But I’d also like to be at a point some day where i don’t need to “invest” in more accessories. Noted on the couple of tics and pops being the limit for you. Best, |
@larsman - which ultrasonic machine do you use and do you recommend it? |
I agree with @larsman every new record gets run thru one of my rcm before first play. Every record, even ECM, which I agree do a superior job of delivering clean, quiet records. I also agree with him that for brand new records an US rcm is my first choice, but I am up at our second home and here use my old VPI HW-17, which works just fine. In fact it is superior to my HumminGuru for old, very dirty records. I brought two milk crates of old ones with us on this trip. Anyway, run your new records thru a rcm, you’ll be glad you did. |
Based on problems with new 'better', I won't pay extra for either 180 gm, or 45 rpm, I don't mind scuffs that I don't hear, but I avoid warps and scratches. Old, dirty, a vigorous manual scrub. The improvement in both Quiet Play and Reproduced Sound using an advanced stylus shape of used LP's is remarkable. |
