Acoustic Sounds-Disappointed in Quality of Vinyl

[Josquin des Prez]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Sometimes I wonder if the vinyl venders don't just re-shrink wrap the returns and send them out again as new hoping the next customer won't be as picky as the one who returned it. Do the record venders return defective albums to the record company for credit, or just reship them?

For their own QRP/AP albums Acoustic Sounds cuts the center out and recycles the remaining vinyl for reuse in their stampers. I saw those recyclers in action. They make quite a loud racket. I think they just take a loss on returns from other manufacturers. IIRC, they told me those can't be returned. I did see an awful lot of returns sitting in their offices (not the warehouse).

I really doubt AS re-wraps and resells anything. One, it isn't legal to resell something as new once opened and returned by a customer, and two I believe they are an honest company. Ditto for MusicDirect, Elusive, etc.

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I only buy new vinyl and on line; 180 & 200 gm basically the very best I can find. I'll think nothing of dropping $30-$60 per album. This is a mere pittance to what I have investing in my analog rig.

When the new vinyl arrives, it always goes through my double matrix cleaner first. I only have about 550-600 albums, but every single one is stellar sounding and dead silent.

I agree and I don't understand all the pops --, guess Mister Bill tuned it to a tee & therefore I'm avoiding those. I'm in debt to him for his customer service & attention to detail. I just wish I retained 10% of what he did.

I understand dirty records and pressing flaws -- dirty records get cleaned and pressing flaws or those that exhibit any flaw get returned. Plain & Simple I say.

When I lower the tone arm -- it's absolute audio bliss and nothing else.

Happy Holidays Folks,

Bob

[esteban]

Reading all these comments I can't help but be reminded of my own re-acquaintance with vinyl not too long ago. I have documented the experience in the analog sub-forum, but, long story short, after spending $200 at a local store on brand new, "audiophile-quality" pressings and discovering that pretty much 75% of them were either defective, lousy-sounding, or both, only to be told post-facto that no refunds were accepted at the store when it came to vinyl ("too many complains... every vinyl sale is final" were their words), I now only buy used vinyl and rarely pay more than $3. To my surprise, I soon discovered that most used pressings sound a heck of a lot better anyway, even the ones that have seen better days and are not 180gms. And I work 3 jobs, so spending hours on end cleaning stuff is out of the question. A royal PITA is putting it mildly.

Nothing against the format per se. I collect old soundtracks that are only available on vinyl, for example, and love admiring the artwork. And I like the analog sound, even though I believe both digital and analog have pros and cons. When one is in the mood, the weather is conducive, things are cleaned and brushed, and stars align in undecipherable cosmic synergy, vinyl is undoubtedly a wonderful, wonderful thing. But in my experience, all of this very rarely happens.

[JohnK]

The other thing to bear in mind is that AS and many of the leading high-end vinyl companies don't dehorn their stampers . So the LP may have some pops and tics that go away with two or three plays. Which would you rather have, polished off highs or waiting for two or three plays for the LP to sound quiet? I know what my choice is.

Myles, forgive my ignorance - what does "dehorn" mean? I think I get the stamper part, but I'm not familiar with "dehorn". Thanks.

[Myles B. Astor]

Originally Posted by JohnK

Myles, forgive my ignorance - what does "dehorn" mean? I think I get the stamper part, but I'm not familiar with "dehorn". Thanks.

Go to lacquer prep section:

- How LPs Are Made : Recording Magazine -

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

Go to lacquer prep section:

- How LPs Are Made : Recording Magazine -

Myles.......Informative read. Thank you.

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

Go to lacquer prep section:

- How LPs Are Made : Recording Magazine -

Myles, thanks! I learned a lot there...where the bass is in the mix (L-R) influences the cutting/width of the groove, etc. All that in addition to the dehorning. A great read. Do we have a general "Vinyl" thread? I think the link to the article would make a great sticky.

[Myles B. Astor]

Originally Posted by JohnK

Myles, thanks! I learned a lot there...where the bass is in the mix (L-R) influences the cutting/width of the groove, etc. All that in addition to the dehorning. A great read. Do we have a general "Vinyl" thread? I think the link to the article would make a great sticky.

Ivan?

[vintage_tube]

Vinyl & Accessories - AudioAficionado.org

Maybe Ivan can move this there?

Happy Holidays Folks,

Bob