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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,

 

mgrif104
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,743 posts
 

This LAST repetition can’t last

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,743 posts
 

I have an absolutely flawless minty JJ Cale OP I bin dived out of a Goodwill…. The small victories of the vinyl Camino Real

cdhumiston's avatar
cdhumiston
45 posts
 

I clean all my new records on my Degritter before I ever play them. I also have a Keith Monks DiscOveryOne that I use before each play.

I had a HumminGuru and it worked well, but I just yearned for the Degritter...

I also have a Record Doctor X that I use when I hand clean used records.

How much noise will I accept on a new record. None!

I have also noticed a lot of new releases are arriving warped. I use my Orb DF-01iA on those. If they flatten properly and sound fine, I keep them.

 

slaw's avatar
slaw
26,548 posts
 

^ I invested in an ORB years ago. So glad, it's been well used.

mylogic
841 posts
 

For those with warped records and no ORB.

There is really a way to flatten your records with no expense.

1. Find a warped record. Do not try to flatten it by storing flat.
2. Have a purpose built record rack or cabinet with dividers every foot or so. 
3. File the warped record (in jacket) perfectly upright in the rack as usual. 
4. There should be other records upright each side with normal side pressures.
5. Wait for at least 30 years (+/- depending on climate) and play record again. 

I know many out there will think this is a little (intended) “tongue in cheek”. But the curious thing about this is, it has worked on loads of minor warps on records l could not replace. I am still playing one that always reminds me it used to make my Goldring G900IGC bottom out.

Feel free of course to still play any such record in between the intervening 30 years, if it was playable in the first place. Ha Ha!

 

P.S. No need for the bin/trash unless you don’t have 30 years left.

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