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Speakers Corner QC?

We just finished opening and playing nine new Speakers Corner records.

- all nine came out of the sleeve covered with more dust than any record should see in its whole lifetime

- three or four were covered with loose vinyl shavings, one sliver is over 1" long

- three have chunks of unmelted vinyl(?) stuck to the grooves, two sound loudly and the third actually skips!

- one has a 4mm long scratch, very audible

The dealer is replacing the bad ones but it's a pain in the neck and I have to pay to mail them back. We've bought nearly a hundred Classic Records reissues and none of them had these problems. Is this normal for Speakers Corner?
dougdeacon
jphii
485 posts
 
Doug,

I've gotten a couple and played them on the old TT, and they sounded great. Any thing that I pay top dollar for, I tend to be more critical of. Arnold Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra Op. 16 is very well recorded. I like the MLP SC reissues. Of course the damn thing cost almost $100, so it should!

But, I don't think it is as good as Bob Dylan: Rolling Thunder Revue 1975, Classic CK-87047, but that could account for my tastes or lack thereof in music.

But, the Teres will not be set up for another 2 days. I'll let you know how they sound on it.

Joe
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Music Direct will take them back within 30 days if truly defective. I've had them take 2 lp's back over the last 6 months. I'm guessing at their own expense...pretty good customer service.
dougdeacon OP
3,338 posts
 
Jfrech,

I agree about MD's customer service. They've been good, it's just a pain. Of the nine I bought they're replacing the four that need to be:
- Decca 6113/Mahler #1/Solti/LSO
- Decca 325-2/Mahler#2/Solti/LSO
- Decca 385-2/Mahler #3/Solti/LSO
- Decca 6026/Bartok/Divertimento for Strings, Vivaldi/two cto's

Must be an anti-Mahler conspiracy. These recordings and pressings are excellent BTW, and Solti does Mahler really well. His #1 is definitive, IMO of course, and it's great to have such a fine recording available. We only listened to #3 last night. I'm still getting my head around it, but during the final movement I all but had a vision of Dante's Beatrice. Sublime music, sublimely played.

I strongly recommend any of these records, but play/check them carefully for flaws.
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
Doug,
I have no conspiracy theory here about Music Direct or anybody else. Just looking for an explanation, as I've heard nothing but good comments here & on Asylum about Speakers Corner LPs. Hoping to get some myself.

Spencer
dougdeacon OP
3,338 posts
 
Rats! I dragged my cloak and dagger down from the attic last night, just hoping for some excitement.

The Speakers Corner/Decca reissues are indeed magnificent. (Can't say the same about their DGG reissue of Verdi's 'Requiem', lousy recording I think.) Don't be shy about trying them.
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