Comments on: Major Label Vinyl Disappointment - Dirty Mint LPs http://geekwithfamily.com/2007/04/20/audiophile/major-label-vinyl-disappointment-dirty-mint-lps/ Home Theater, Anime, Geek Gadgets for the whole family Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:47:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Kyle Kolbe http://geekwithfamily.com/2007/04/20/audiophile/major-label-vinyl-disappointment-dirty-mint-lps/#comment-13079 Kyle Kolbe Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:46:13 +0000 http://geekwithfamily.com/2007/04/20/audiophile/major-label-vinyl-disappointment-dirty-mint-lps/#comment-13079 KPZ -- I bought it at Virgin Megastore, the only record store in lunch break walking distance. I don't think I'll return it, I want to fight this with a good record cleaning. The more I research cleaning, I find both new and old records need a good wet and vacuumed run through a cleaning machine. Now, I'm all excited to either DIY a RCM or buy the KAB EV-1, which it sounds like I will still need a pre vacuum rotating surface. I plan to use the MFSL Super Record Wash (aka RRL) and MFSL Brush and pads. Once I'm set up, the more dirty records the bigger the challenge for the RCM. Keith -- It's discouraging to hear that your RCM couldn't help some pressings and also that "audiophile" grade pressings can vary so widely in quality. Inspired by your DIY RCM, I've been trying to figure how I can make my own version. The Goodwill by my house didn't yield any ice cream maker motors or air pumps/vacuums. If I copy your design I'll have to buy retail which is still cheap for the two major components: $25 each at Target. I'm also trying to figure out alternatives like an RC motor from a toy construction vehicle (not enough torque?), and a simple cork plant mat attached to a lazy susan undercarriage, with a spindle and door knob clamp. It's hard to decide how far to go the DIY route as I already have so many half begun projects (like my headphone amp). Also all the cleaning in the world can't help a warped record. Wish me luck. KPZ — I bought it at Virgin Megastore, the only record store in lunch break walking distance. I don’t think I’ll return it, I want to fight this with a good record cleaning. The more I research cleaning, I find both new and old records need a good wet and vacuumed run through a cleaning machine. Now, I’m all excited to either DIY a RCM or buy the KAB EV-1, which it sounds like I will still need a pre vacuum rotating surface. I plan to use the MFSL Super Record Wash (aka RRL) and MFSL Brush and pads. Once I’m set up, the more dirty records the bigger the challenge for the RCM.

Keith — It’s discouraging to hear that your RCM couldn’t help some pressings and also that “audiophile” grade pressings can vary so widely in quality.

Inspired by your DIY RCM, I’ve been trying to figure how I can make my own version. The Goodwill by my house didn’t yield any ice cream maker motors or air pumps/vacuums. If I copy your design I’ll have to buy retail which is still cheap for the two major components: $25 each at Target. I’m also trying to figure out alternatives like an RC motor from a toy construction vehicle (not enough torque?), and a simple cork plant mat attached to a lazy susan undercarriage, with a spindle and door knob clamp.

It’s hard to decide how far to go the DIY route as I already have so many half begun projects (like my headphone amp).

Also all the cleaning in the world can’t help a warped record.

Wish me luck.

]]> By: Citizen Keith http://geekwithfamily.com/2007/04/20/audiophile/major-label-vinyl-disappointment-dirty-mint-lps/#comment-12494 Citizen Keith Sat, 21 Apr 2007 13:24:10 +0000 http://geekwithfamily.com/2007/04/20/audiophile/major-label-vinyl-disappointment-dirty-mint-lps/#comment-12494 I buy all my new vinyl online from reputable dealers, or at least make sure that I can return the LP to my local shop if there's a problem. I recently bought the new Norah Jones record, released by audiophile label Classic Records. The first copy I bought, the limited edition 150g red vinyl pressing, was extremely noisey. My RCM couldn't do anything about it. The dealer, Elusive Disc, took the record back, but were out of all the red vinyl editions. They replaced it with the black vinyl 200g edition. This copy had distortion that I've never heard on a record before... it was so bad, I recorded it for posterity: http://www.keithhanlon.com/norah.mp3 I sent that one back too. Finally, I received a decent copy on the third try. It took a while, but in the end it was worth it. I buy all my new vinyl online from reputable dealers, or at least make sure that I can return the LP to my local shop if there’s a problem.

I recently bought the new Norah Jones record, released by audiophile label Classic Records. The first copy I bought, the limited edition 150g red vinyl pressing, was extremely noisey. My RCM couldn’t do anything about it. The dealer, Elusive Disc, took the record back, but were out of all the red vinyl editions.

They replaced it with the black vinyl 200g edition. This copy had distortion that I’ve never heard on a record before… it was so bad, I recorded it for posterity:
http://www.keithhanlon.com/norah.mp3

I sent that one back too. Finally, I received a decent copy on the third try. It took a while, but in the end it was worth it.

]]> By: kpz http://geekwithfamily.com/2007/04/20/audiophile/major-label-vinyl-disappointment-dirty-mint-lps/#comment-12459 kpz Sat, 21 Apr 2007 02:08:11 +0000 http://geekwithfamily.com/2007/04/20/audiophile/major-label-vinyl-disappointment-dirty-mint-lps/#comment-12459 Yeah, that sucks. But why don't you just send/take the thing back where you got it? Most people I've run across who operate music shops are pretty cool, and would be understanding of such an issue + replace it. But yeah, I have some new LPs that have impossible crackling (Pixies' Surfer Rosa). One has a skip in the same spot, and it's brand new. A friend of mine bought the new Explosions In The Sky LP and had to send it back twice--it was messed up in the exact same spot on both copies he got. Yeah, that sucks. But why don’t you just send/take the thing back where you got it? Most people I’ve run across who operate music shops are pretty cool, and would be understanding of such an issue + replace it.

But yeah, I have some new LPs that have impossible crackling (Pixies’ Surfer Rosa). One has a skip in the same spot, and it’s brand new. A friend of mine bought the new Explosions In The Sky LP and had to send it back twice–it was messed up in the exact same spot on both copies he got.

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