Is it possible to have vinyl nearly noise free?

OK, let me put it a different way. Digital has the potential for much greater Signal to Noise Ratio and Dynamic Range than analog. I really don’t foresee analog system getting any better than 70 dB. But digital systems can achieve 90+ dB (potentially). Obviously, the intentional overly aggressive dynamic range compression for digital and analog doesn’t help in terms of dynamic range. Of course, there are many sources of noise and distortion in any audio system, so a lot depends on the desire and ability of the person to achieve his system’s true potential.

Mint good pressing records are very quiet in my system, you can only hear master tape noise. I clean the stylus with Lyra before each play and never look at it under magnification. Okki Nokki machine with Audio Intelligent fluids cleans quite good, soak the records before vacuuming off. This takes some work but very simple and easy really.
Unfortunately, best pressings that I have are mostly far from Mint but I listen to them as opposed to inferior pressings in better condition.

As I've upgraded my analog system I've gotten a lot closer to "nearly completely quiet".  Most new and well cared for used records are pretty quiet on my system.  There's noise between tracks, which of course is there during the music as well, but there usually isn't a lot to distract me from the music.

I became complacent about cleaning records because most of them I either buy new or from a record store that cleans their records with a VPI.  I always cleaned records that I bought anywhere else but not the ones that were new or already cleaned.

I was listening with my girlfriend one night and the record I put on was really noisy.  She suggested that I clean it.  I told her it wouldn't do anything because I bought it from the record store that cleans the records, but I'd do it for giggles.  I was quite surprised when it sounded dramatically better.  I don't know if they missed cleaning that one or if the fluid I use worked better or what, but I've started cleaning all my records again with my VPI. 

I use a soft dry brush on the stylus (usually for every side) and then every few sides I use some fluid.   

I really don’t foresee analog system getting any better than 70 dB. But digital systems can achieve 90+ dB (potentially).

16 bit is -96 dB, but analog can and does get to -85 dB down. The reason this is so is not because all LPs are that quiet (people often mistake personal anecdote for all the media).

When the LP is mastered, the resulting lacquer can be so quiet that the phono preamp is the noise floor, regardless of the phono cartridge or preamp. That's pretty quiet and -85dB is being conservative. Most of the surface noise occurs in the plating/pressing process. QRP (which is the pressing plant set up by Acoustic Sounds in Salinas, Kansas) has modified pressing machines that are mechanically damped to eliminate any vibration as the vinyl cools. As a result, they can make pressings that are so quiet that their noise floor is also lower than the playback electronics.


Most digital releases are compressed in the digital domain using DSP. This is because there is an expectation it will be played in a car where there is a higher background noise. As a result, LP often has greater dynamic range.

@atmasphere great write up! 

I guess since mainstream music ( I just cant bring myself to call it Pop) is still the biggest seller digital compression will remain a serious factor.

At least until the mainstream listener invests in wide bandwidth audio equipment and starts driving quieter cars. Far too difficult to ask them to employ the loudness/ EQ button let alone adjust Bass and Treble controls - that's if there are any.