Are all new records warped? We must fight back.

[bucolicbuffalo]

[1200y3]

I think that is why the new vinyl is all 180 gm, because with the new vinyl composition it won't come off the presses as good as the older more elastic vinyl. Less mass is better as everyone knows, and lighter records are much more live.

It is unfortunate, because records have to be as flat as possible.

In keeping up with enviornmental and health concerns, I am sure vinyl's compositions have changed.

[zachd]

A lot of new records in the US are warped because they are sealed in heat shrink. When they are shipped - in the heat - the shrink wrap shrinks more and the whole batch is warped.

I first really noticed this when Beastie Boys Hello Nasty was released. I ran out and bought the orange vinyl but it was warped. My friend and I returned to the store several times and kept swapping them out for other copies - all warped. I emailed Grand Royal and they responded but said there wasn't a lot they could do about it.

If you buy a lot or deal with shrinked records you will eventually start to be able to tell when the shrink is too tight and that the record inside will be warped. Especially good to know with used sealed records.

They got smart in the UK, it seems they do not shrink wrap a lot of their records now and avoid this problem (and the cost).

[33audio]

Leaving out years of details, I thought you might gain from my impression of the reissue industry. I questioned and sometime fought with people on the inside of this industry to gain an understanding.

They would have you assume that they are quality conscious and engineering savvy people who are trying to bring you pristine gems from the past.

My final impression is that it is a financial enterprise without the care that is assumed by the purchaser. They may also be in the fried chicken business.

They can rent the "original master" from the vault (may be worn out and/or deteriorated)and put up a bond of over a million dollars.

They can arrange for a mastering service to take the tape of uncertain quality and cut an acetate or metal master. The lathe will probably use a delay line on the cutter amp. This means the pure analog signal is used for the depth control and the output of a digital converter is sent to the cutter head. May be a fine lathe, but the signal is common digital and also delayed by another digital circuit.

Someone else may make a stamper.

They can have it pressed by another company. (remember Columbia House and RCA Record Service?).

They can have a fancy cover produced with plenty of audiophile keywords of the smoke-and-mirrors variety with little "to-die-for" and "180-gram" logos to make you feel confident.

They market it through audio distributors and the customer assumes that it is a quality product.

It is a product, but the quality is basically a mystery.....not always, but the phrase "caveat emptor" should be remembered.

Keeping in mind that this is the impression I got after years of digging for facts, the original investors may have only made the record to turn a profit. They may not have even known what record they invested in.

Worst case scenario and hopefully more the exception than the rule.

Best Regards, Mark

[Jorlsafar]

I buy all my new records over the counter in a shop, where the shop owner (since mid 80's) knows what he is selling and you could ask questions and get straight answers, like: - Is this LP any good sounding? - no buy the Zi-Di.

They also take back damaged records, no questions asked.

I think part of the problem is that records are expensive and customers compare prices and buy over the internet. The record stores could also provide the same items and often faster than over the net. It is too much hassle to send back an LP for 15 EUROS to, say, UK, if warped.

It becomes more expensive to buy and order from shops, of course, but not much.

Best/J