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Speakers Corner QC?

We just finished opening and playing nine new Speakers Corner records.

- all nine came out of the sleeve covered with more dust than any record should see in its whole lifetime

- three or four were covered with loose vinyl shavings, one sliver is over 1" long

- three have chunks of unmelted vinyl(?) stuck to the grooves, two sound loudly and the third actually skips!

- one has a 4mm long scratch, very audible

The dealer is replacing the bad ones but it's a pain in the neck and I have to pay to mail them back. We've bought nearly a hundred Classic Records reissues and none of them had these problems. Is this normal for Speakers Corner?
dougdeacon
dougdeacon OP
3,338 posts
 
Rats! I dragged my cloak and dagger down from the attic last night, just hoping for some excitement.

The Speakers Corner/Decca reissues are indeed magnificent. (Can't say the same about their DGG reissue of Verdi's 'Requiem', lousy recording I think.) Don't be shy about trying them.
rcprince
3,059 posts
 
Doug, don't blame Speakers Corner for what DG did at the recording stage! I have had no real problems with any of the 30-40 Speakers Corner LPs I've bought; sounds like bad luck on your part.
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
Anybody heard their Mingus!Mingus!Mingus! LP? Thanks,
Spencer
dougdeacon OP
3,338 posts
 
Rcprince, the DG was indeed poorly recorded, even for DG. Of course that's not SC's fault, though I wonder why they bothered to reissue this one.

From your experience and that of others it seems we just had terrible luck. I'll be very happy with clean copies of all the Deccas, and I'm certainly going to pick up some of the new Mercuries. Glad to know so many people have good experiences. It would be a shame if such fine remasterings and pressings couldn't be played cleanly.
quincy
322 posts
 
I have purchased a lot of vinyl over the internet the last five years. And yes, I have had to send some back due to defects. I have had some severe defects which make me wonder if any human being is even in the manufacturing process loop. Yes, you have to return the vinyl on your dime, and it can be a hassle. One time a "Internet Vendor" called me at home to complain that I had taped the glob of vinyl waste to the destroyed record. We "exchanged words" and that was the last order I ever placed with them. So it goes with this hobby!
Regards,
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