Here is a nice discussion of vinyl weight for LPs and whether it matters: http://blog.vinylgourmet.com/2015/10/180-gram-vinyl-what-are-the-benefits-heavyweight-vinyl-records-... . |
In general I like 180 and 200g records better, but I've also found that using a record grip (I use a KAB) helps make light records (e.g., 70g Dynaflex) sound more like 140-180g records. Each weight has a different amount of damping and a different resonant frequency. Try a record grip; you'd be surprised at how much it helps all records have a similar tonal balance and noise floor. |
A while back I reported a problem (on a 120g disc) in which I could hear the beginning of Side A audibly imprinted through the disc while listening to the start of side B. I'd never previously heard a phenomenon like this. It certainly wasn't the type of thing that could have been caused by print-through on a tape because you tend to hear the end of the other recording rather than the beginning. (Even if it was on the same tape). You wonder whether such an effect could have ever happened with a 180g. Unfortunately 180g LPs can have other more serious problems (non-fill being possibly the worst - and undeniably worse than the one mentioned above). Having read all the arguments I think flatness of the LP is possibly the most important recommendation. Good mastering should be automatic regardless of the thickness. |
Dear friends: The standards to cut/press LP are the same for any LP weight, are standards as the RIAA equalization in all LP's and phono stages: can't change. Are an audio whole industry standards. I own more low weight LP's that the heavy ones and in both cases I listening very good quality performances and very bad QP. So a heavy weight is not a warranty of better quality sound. All of you posted almost all about and almost agree with all posts. I think that in some ways the overall recording process improved through the years and that fact makes that some today recordings be really better but not because the LP weight. Obviously that through the marketing advertasing the industry makes that we think that heavy weight LP's are better when is not because that weight but the imagen they all builded permits to them to take advantage with a very high prices on all those heavy LP's. That's a " great " marketing estrategy. Through the latest times existed and exist , day by day, higher demand for the LP and even that not only the LP's price does not gone down but the other way around: higher prices!!! everywhere and with no better quality LP sound!!! This is a problem for all of us music lovers, always we customers are the ones that have to pay for it with almost no nothing in the change of each one of us money. Do you think that LP future prices, even this trend of very high demand, could make that the prices goes down? We will see but I seriously doubt. Regards and enjoy the music, R. |
