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QC at QRP

Let me start this post by saying that I'm a long-time supporter of Acoustic Sounds/Analog Productions, and think Chad Kassem has done the analog community a huge service by reissuing so many great recordings of the past on high quality vinyl and with beautiful packaging.  That said...

I recently placed a fairly substantial order from AS that included several jazz and classical reissues pressed by QRP.  As the reviews all say, the packaging is beautiful and the recordings from that batch that I've listened to so far have sounded very good.  However, I am a bit disappointed in the quality of some of the QRP pressings.  At least half of the records in this batch are noticeably warped.  I'm not expecting the utmost perfection in terms of record flatness, but some of these are warped to the point where the clamp on my Michell turntable isn't able to get them reasonably flat - and the Michell clamp is the most effective one I've ever used at tightly coupling an LP to the platter.  Without the clamp the records are unacceptably wavy.

I keep asking myself if I'm being unreasonable in my expectations and maybe I am. But these are 'premium' $40+ records from a company with their own pressing plant and that touts the quality of their pressings at every turn - 'Quality' is in their name, after all!  A couple of the records also have spindle holes that are drilled so small that the records can't be placed on the spindle without excessive force.  And, once on, removing the record from the spindle is another adventure.  Not acceptable IMHO.  

I'm tempted to return close to half the records in this order, but I'll probably limit it to the most egregious cases.  If the Michell clamp can reasonably flatten a record then I wont return it. 

Are others experiencing similar QC problems with QRP pressings?   YouTube channels like Scott Wilson's The Pressing Matters and others seem to universally praise the Analog Productions/QRP LPs - I don't think I've ever heard Scott complain about warped LPs from QRP or discuss other pressing anomalies like poorly drilled spindle holes.

Maybe I've just been unlucky, but I'd love to hear the experience of others.

lpluvr
lpluvr OP
75 posts
 

@tykozen Maybe AP is just trying to do too much with too few people, and quality is slipping as a result.  I bought many AP LPs in the early days of the company and don’t recall having these sorts of issues - and that was before they controlled the entire vinyl production process. 

Hopefully this is just a blip and something they can correct going forward.  But I’m hesitant to continue buying if this is the quality I can expect. 

thaluza's avatar
thaluza
303 posts
 

My expensive cartridge bounced off a dished QRP record and damaged the cantilever. The cantilever became severely slanted as a result. Fortunately, VAS was able to repair my cartridge. 

drbond
484 posts
 

@lpluvr 

Just return them for an exchange.  I have bought lots from them, and about 1/3 were warped.  I just send them back, and they send me a flat one as a replacement…although rarely I might get two warped ones.  Buy with confidence, as they will honor any problems, as long as you return them within 30 days of receiving them.

 

faustuss's avatar
faustuss
816 posts
 

@lpluvr 

@tykozen 

Just looked at Acoustic Sounds catalog at tykozen’s Pink Floyd live at Pompeii which wasn’t even pressed by QRP. Being from Legacy it could have pressed at a number of European pressing houses. Are either of you even aware that AS doesn’t actually manufacture most of the records they sell? I’d like to see the list of records lpluvr bought to see who actually pressed them.

Also, AS doesn't ask you to return defective records that are sold as Analog Productions pressed at QRP, they just send a replacement sans jacket.

 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,733 posts
 

I started buying records in the early 60’s. This just didn’t happen, it’s really occurred since vinyl made a comeback after CDs.

There must have been good/better/best pressings back then (that I was unaware of), but I never had the need, even the idea to ask for a replacement, not once.

It must be that Quality Control did their job.

This problem shouldn’t exist, the fact that ’superior’ ’premium’ offerings have these issues is unforgivable.

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