New Record Sounds Like Crap - How???

There are a host of reasons for the existence or lack of surface noise on a record. Mold release issues might be one of them. However, the record groove has something to do with it as well and how it relates to your cartridge adjustment as Michael Fremer pointed out in a recent issue of Stereophile. I urge you to read that article. While records are often imperfect, at least the surface noise is not in the same frequency band as the music while electronic noise is with cd's. You might want to try Groove Glide II. I have been using this for years. I have demonstrated its superiority to the Last product over and over again to other audiophiles who have also switched. It will help to quiet noisey surfaces and improves sonic impact. Yes, it retards needle wear as well.

Dear Pawlowsky: I know very well that LP ( I own the Mobile Fidelity copy ) and is very clean about any kind of rare noises.

The Fantasy label comes from Acoustic Sounds and I own several Fantasy LP's and some with that kind of problems: no quality control!!!!

But this problem is not only with the Fantasy ( " low price " ) new LP's, I already had severe problems with Acoustic Sounds premium label Analogue productions and in my opinion the problem is the same: no quality control!!!!

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Lots of good advice above, and I can echo the experiences of Jependleton, Nsgarch and Rauliruegas. I have experienced everything they said (except that I've never used Last, or Groove Glide either).

One more thing to try before you decide poor QC and poor vinyl is to blame: an enzyme based cleaner. Strange as it seems, even some newish records have biological contaminants. These usually sound like intermittent snaps, crackles and pops. A thorough dosing with Buggtussel Vinyl-Zyme removes most of them. Follow with RRL as a final step. You need Vinyl-Zyme in your cleaning arsenal anyway. While it's not common for new LP's to need it, it's virtually guaranteed that older ones will.

Good luck,
Doug

I have luck using the aerosol Micro Care Premier record-cleaner as a first-treatment for those older still sealed records described by Nsgarch. At 20 bucks a can its kinda pricey, but it seems to work well for mold release agent. Available wherever fine potions, unquents and lotions are sold - Smart Devices, Acoustics Sounds, Music Direct, etc.

Tim

Is anyone looking (listening) at the fact that one might have a incorrectly set up TT? The reason why I introduce this idea into the thread is most all my Analogue Productions Fantasy series prove to be some of the best, if not the best records I've ever heard. And pardon me but, that's saying a lot as I've been collecting records for forty years.

I concede that in the analog (vinyl) world, it's all about getting the right pressing, in good shape and that takes a lot of hard learned knowledge and some luck. Mold release is an issue but, I feel it is somewhat over blown as the boogy man of all surface noise.

New pressings are not necessarily the problem though many old original/first pressings better represent true high fidelity but, it gets complicated. Record collecting (for the music) is not an instant gratification, always. I could give you a list a mile long of great current pressings or reissues that are superb to my ear and quiet. This is the whole thing IMHO that got early digital an undeserved start in the first place. Most folks didn't want, or didn’t know how, or couldn't afford (priorities?!) a well set up deck to play on so they kept blaming the (poor) vinyl quality.

Please, with all due respect I say these things because most everything I play on my TT or my friends TT's sound remarkable with one caveat and that is more or less vinyl will never be, on the whole, as quiet as a digital format but, close. So maybe you need to assess your personal tolerance to surface noise. That said, If you have a real nice TT, IMHO there is not a digital format available that holds a candle to analog for real sounding musical reproduction. SACD is on the right track but, still falls short. It is worth mentioning that I use a live acoustic event as my point of reference to what music should sound like at home on my HiFi. It’s also noteworthy to mention that I have owned a Linn Sondek Lp12 since 1982 and had some real nice decks before that.

I don’t know your background with TT’s Pawowski6132. I could only suggest making sure that your deck is set up right and that it is enough deck for your ears to be satisfied. I don’t believe the vinyl, by the most part, is the problem.

Best of luck. Happy Listening!