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Warped Records

I would say about 75% of the new records I have purchased online or in some of the local shops are warped. The outer edge will almost always have a big hump in it, I can't tell if it is really affecting the sound but it is very disappointing.
I got four new records last night all but three were warped & the one that was not warped skips. Also they seem to be very noisy, The new 200g Led Zeppelin's all have some large pops in them. On a earlier date I took back some warped ones to the store & they put it on a turntable & told me it was normal.
ANother time I sent five records back to amusicdirect.com & they exchanged them for five more warped records.
What's the deal? Anyone else seem to have the same trouble?
krellm7
krellm7 OP
163 posts
 
Dlwask,
Thank you for the reply When I buy used records they too are flat & most of the time noise free.
I think the pressing plants are just stamping these out so fast & with little care of quality. That or they are not shipping them properly & that is how they are getting warped.
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qdrone
1,039 posts
 
Last weekend i purchased Action Action Action by Jackie McClean a Blue Note re-issue and it was warped. I will return it. Side two was very quite but side one had surface noise and i even cleaned the record. I'm beginning to think that there is no quality control out there. It seems it might be a situation that they are trying to maximize their profit margin. I wonder if the place we are buying them from can even return them to the manufacture. If they can't then it is pure profit because what goes out the door is sold and can't be returned. Toward the end of mass producing records venders had to eat the record if it was returned to them. You don't need quality control if it can't be returned. But in the end they will stop making them because WE will stop buying them thus pushing the cost of primo mint used vinyl even higher.
smctigue
9 posts
 
I received a copy of David Crosby's "If I Could Only Remember My Name" from Classic the other day. If I plugged up the spindle hole, I could eat soup off of side 2. Severely dished.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I have no idea what this would do to an LP, but I use get some of those large 12" video laser-discs that would skip because the disc was too warped.

I would warm them ever so very slightly in the oven and then place them between two flat surfaces until they cooled.

Worked like a charm whether a wavy warp or dish-like.

You could experiment with a warped LP you don't care about to see if it will straighten the LP without ruining the grooves. I don't remember what temperature I used, but you must not melt the plastic even slightly. I'd guess 100 degrees Farenheit. Use a thermometer; don't trust the oven knob setting. Laser-discs were easier because it was just the clear plastic covering the metal disc inside with the digital information.
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