Brand new vinyl - what’s acceptable to you?

+1 @mulveling 

My collection is a single digit percentage of what you have. I too find charm in the medium even with its flaws. That said, I was trying to get a handle on what others expect. I can live with “mostly” quiet. I can’t live with a scratch.

As noted earlier - most of my stuff is classical. But, I’m listening to my new Who’s Next on polydor/UMC half speed master on 180g. It’s dead quiet and sounds fabulous! So much so that it sounds quite different than I’m used to. Far more depth/ spatial information. For those of us who love classic 70s rock - highly recommended.

I don't want any noise on a new record but true perfection is not easy to find. Cleaning is important, that's for sure but flaws in a new record are something that I despise. I have found more flaws in modern 180 and 200g re-masters than I have in originals from the 50's on through modern times. I will seek out original pressings whenever possible. Clear and colored vinyl often tends to be cleaner in SQ than black vinyl but I also have a lot of excellent black vinyl records as well. It's not a perfect media but it sure can come close at times. 

I’ve had to return a higher percentage of records from audiophile labels than the rest. Just had to provide photo evidence of the destroyed, Lp 1 in the latest Hendrix/Axis UHQR in order for a replacement. 

@slaw I have as well. Often too late for me to return, as I would just put them in my collection still sealed and not play them for a year or more. I mostly avoid the re-masters now, having had so much trouble with them. Many of them I have found to be inferior in SQ as well, compared to originals. Disappointing when you spend $40 or more for something that is supposed to be high quality or "Audiophile". Some are great buy many just are not. 

I'm a proponent of returning a vinyl record, if it doesn't meet a decent level of quiet.