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

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.

@slaw l agree


 

Good flat things come to those who wait.
 

l was kinda joking, but l never ditched those dished/undulating records. This shows they were good buys in the end, and repairing themselves, so to speak. Still earning time out of jail on day release, they are now all upright reformed characters. 

@mgrif104 

I recently bought a Kirmuss US RCM used for about $700.  It did seem overwhelming when I first got it and was preparing for the process but once you get going, it isn't bad.  You can do 2 at a time and walk away between spins.  I called and spoke to him as well.  He talked me into losing a couple habits.  One was wiping with a microfiber cloth after a clean.  Now I only use the lens cloth.  I also thought I was doing a good thing with a small record cleaner that is the tacky roller like used for pet hair and lint on clothes.  It for sure got the dust off but was apparently leaving a film behind.  I like the results from the Kirmuss.  It has made more noticeable improvements with records being quieter than my other two inexpensive spin wash RCM.