New Re-Issue Vinyl: Surface Noise, Ticks, Pops....

I think we vinyl consumers are pretty much out on a limb with no where to turn when it comes to quality vinyl. Unless I'm mistaken, RTI is the only record pressing plant left in the USA. There's so much demand for their services, production schedules keep getting pushed back for new releases. Not a scenario that is likely to result in improvements. I've been very disappointed in the quality of new vinyl releases as well. Pretty much much every one I've bought over the last year from a variety of labels has at least one side that's unacceptably marred by tics, pops, and swooshes. I absolutely clean all new albums on my NItty Gritty before playing them.

I clean everything right out of the sleeve. The mold release stuff they use tends to latch onto little nasties which cause some of the ticks and pops. That being said, I too have found new pressings to be hit or miss. If you have a record cleaner...VPI, Clearaudio, Nitty Gritty, etc...it's sometimes better to buy used and scrub away before you play.

the problems inherent in new vinyl are always going to be there to a degree. i'm not suggesting you like with a faulty pressing.....just saying that everyone's idea of a quiet record is a bit different.

I notice the better cart the less these imperfectioins make it out of the speaker.....still there but less amplified.

I buy very little new vinyl and I'm very careful when I do: ie. I usually wait to hear from other listeners who have taken the plunge before me on reissues with respect to the quality of the vinyl or pressing. I have a few of the Music Matters Blue Notes on order because they seem to have a decent record so far with quality control (even though they're pressed at RTI) and I'll probably buy Speakers Corner (pressed in Europe) again because the few that I've ordered have been very good.

But I'm generally reluctant to buy new vinyl, particularly new North American vinyl, because of the horrendous quality control record it seems to have. I'm also not interested in buying new vinyl that's been digitally sourced or manipulated and that eliminates about 75% of the re-issues from what I can see.

I'd rather just buy old records that need to be cleaned. Generally better sounding and quieter pressings once run through the RCM. My success rate is very high with used vinyl and much of it is at bargain basement prices so if it doesn't work out I can simply toss the record without being upset. I'll also trade some of the used vinyl I buy to dealer(s) to fund purchases of new vinyl so, in the end, the new vinyl is really costing me considerably less.