Are all new records warped? We must fight back.

lumendog

After a long record purchasing drought, I decided on some new purchases this weekend. Both were 180 gram and both were warped. One so wickedly warped. I had never seen numerous large warps before on a record. Let alone a new one that has not been roasting in my back seat for three years.

I decided that I would take them back. These puppies are almost 20 bucks and should not be in such a state. The worst of them, a Cat Stevens reissue only touched my platter on a few spots, and that was only with the aid of my record weight. Literally unbelievable.

We have to stand up to this and take these records back. Acceptance will only make this problem worse.

Will you guys stand up and vow to take back new warped records with me?

zenith2134 · member Joined: 06 Mar 2009 Posts: 32 Location: Queens NY

If it's a 20 buck record, and 180 gram, then there is NO REASON why it should arrive warped. I, too have had somewhat bad luck with new vinyls.

Whereas I can walk into any hole in the wall NYC record shop and come out with a 35 year old LP in NM condition for 2 or 3 dollars. Doesn't make sense, IMO.

Lack of quality control/care at the plant(s) is the main reason I suspect. Quantity over quality.

dbjergaard · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:31 am Post subject:

I bought an 180 gram Electric Prunes album ("I had too much to dream last night") And it was warped + "pressed out of round" (ie the hole was off-center). I returned it, only to have the replacement suffer similar problems (though not as pronounced)

I just recently bought at 180 gram Blind Faith album (with original artwork) and it looks and sounds absolutely pristine, so I guess quality control just sort of sucks.

Its really annoying when I find used vinyl thats 30+ years old that sounds better than new stuff...

Another thing that is annoying (and I only realized this recently) is that most reissues are the digital re-masters pressed onto vinyl. I had a discussion with the cashier at the vinyl shop, and he said that while it is the digital-remaster, the vinyl still had a deeper sound stage than the CD.

For me the magic of vinyl is partly the sound, but mostly the whole experience of playing the music.

MB149 · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

This kind of goes back to the post on new vinyl beware, but in my limited time back to vinyl, I have not been too impressed with some of the new stuff I have purchased. My latest two were 180 gram Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66. This was in perfect shape and plays great. The other is a little bit of a disappointment. It is the 200gram pressing of Diana Krall's from this moment on. This cost me 34 bucks plus shipping and it has a slight warp and it has been cleaned twice and has pops and some surface noise.

As vinyl people, I know we should be happy that there is more and more now out and coming out on vinyl, but paying more than CD's cost to get crummy quality does not make sense to me.

I agree with the above post on used records. I went to a local record show two weekends ago and bought over 60 albums, most I paid between 5 and 20 dollars for depending on title and condition. Some were still sealed. Overall the ones I have listened to have sounded better than some of the reissues and have had less surface noise, with the exceptions to some that have a few minor scratches.

bauzace50 · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:01 pm Post subject:

Yes! Take back faulty pressings!
b50
_________________
Let's take it again from: "Oh yeah?! What do you aim to do about it?!"

Axlinscotland · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

Mitsuman · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:27 pm Post subject:

I have had terrible luck with anything put out by Back To Black Records. I've also received warped new vinyl from Music Direct and they will only refund the price of the album, not the shipping charge. Plus they expect you to pay to send them back the crap they shipped you. Sorry to rant but you've touched a nerve. Mad

Brian75 · senior member Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 227

Yup,
Posted this before... but Hot Topic changed their policy from accepting LP returns, to not accepting any no matter what the reason. To quote the manager, "with vinyl, once you open it, it's yours.". So watch out with them.

Whitneyville · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:18 am Post subject: "Time" warped records

Yup! More of the new pressing I've bought in the last 5 years have "issues" than my yard/garage sale boxes of LP's at like 25 cents a piece (except for the dirt factor). The "old" vinyl responds much better to my patent-pending "heat-lamp and cinder blocks on 1/2" plywood" flattening method for heat-warped LP's I get at the yard/garage sales. The "new" stuff just stays warped, and at $20-40+ each, and three returns at Starship Records here, I am not a happy camper, and neither are the people at Starship....they have to "eat" those now, no returns in most cases.

lumendog · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject:

I just took back the third copy of a new cat stevens record to Amoeba in berkeley, ca. I decided against new and bought a 40 year old Howlin wolf chess album. No warps, a few scratches and no more burned petrol going back and forth. Someone should come out with a cheap periphery clamp.

TSWisla · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:10 pm Post subject:

I have no affiliation with this company other than I purchase all of my vinyl and accessories from them, but Music Direct will always take back warped records and they will even check them for you before shipping out. Top notch customer service.

Tom

wrongatron

i bought the jackie brown tarrantino soundtrak the other day, new on vinyl, and it got me thinking? being a compilation, it is probably just a cheap pressing from a bunch of digital remasters....how can i be sure that the new records i buy are the real analogue deal?? back in the old days when cds came out there would be a three letter code, a or d for the recording, mixing and mastering phases of the production....ie AAD or similar. this is probably answered in another post, but i am fairly new to this wonderful site and would appreciate any help on this topic....cheers

wrongatron

these new and expensive re issues and new pressings in stores.........are they the real deal, and pressed with the same masters as the legit originals, or are they heartless cheapo pressings made from digital re masters??? please tell me.....

Mitsuman · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject:

philbrown · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject:

Although vinyls shouldn't be made from digital remasters, the cashier at the record shop is right.... Listen for example to Tusk from Fleetwood mac, only with a good TT you will recognise the minimun difference.

All you will get for Tusk is a digital remaster because the digital system used for the original recording-Soundstream-no longer exists any where.
Phil Brown