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.
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. |
@faustuss you are totally right, i bought the album through Acoustic sounds but it was not of their manufacturing. Apologies. |
What got me hooked on Mandarin Orange https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOHkyZ62jjQ&list=RDiOHkyZ62jjQ&start_radio=1 bought a few LPs, love them. I grew up partly in North Carolina and Virginia, so I ’get’ their voices easier than some. Pandora, I hear Ocie Elliott, i.e. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJH_UltkAJo&list=RDEMP7dV0z_MtV_TgmZEe9Emjg&index=14 Oh yeah, get me some o’ dat. The engineers blew in on the LP I received, not the QC, but once someone heard it, they should have made the engineers re-do it, right. They didn’t, they just pressed it/took my money/shipped it. Part of the problem with a lot of dialog in movies is the editors know the script, are quite familiar, and can’t imagine how we need more clarity on 1st listen. I’m dissapointed that they made a high quality lp of poor engineering. btw, no lyric sheet was included. Knowing the vocals were so muffled, wouldn't you hurry up and print the lyrics for inclusion? Buy Ani DiFranco, she always puts the lyrics, so you can hear what you hear, read the lyrics, understand more, over time she becomes one of your favorites. |
@faustuss I’m clear on the distinction between AP/QRP and other company’s records sold by Acoustic Sounds.
I also received the Speakers Corner reissue of Miles Davis’ ’Round About Midnight’ that has a significant crease in the middle of the cover front, and a pretty warped Rhino Reissue of John Coltrane’s ’Giant Steps’. Obviously, neither of these last two were manufactured by AP/QRP, just sold through Acoustic Sounds. I’m still going through my most recent order from Acoustic Sounds which does include additional LPs pressed at QRP, so it’s possible I’ll find more. I hope not... |
