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Oh no, there's metal in your records!

IMO, this is completely out of left field. But, here’s the story. On Saturday, there was a "seminar" at the local stereo shop about why you should listen to high quality records. It turned out to be a 3 hour commercial for this dude who wants to market his services as a "HQ record shopper" of sorts. For a mere $240, you get an annual subscription to his services. You pick a title, and he will find the "best available" version of the record... so you can buy it. And, when he brings it to you, he’ll bring other similar records for you to buy. Most of these records are in the $50 to $100 range, so this "service" clearly not for me. Plus, I kind of like the hunt for a gem.

Anyway, the point of the post: One thing he said is that some older vinyl has metallic content embedded in the vinyl, and that it can interact with your cartridge’s magnet, causing distortion. Therefore, you should only buy the newest, most pristine (hence most expensive) vinyl records... from him, of course. I didn’t want to challenge him on the spot in front of others, but in my mind I’m thinking this is the most ridiculous claim I’ve ever heard. Even more ridiculous than gems you place on your speakers to change the way they sound... but, I digress. I understand he wants to show the true value of his "service"... but, seriously? Interesting business idea... but metal in the vinyl?

Just for fun, I did a little bit of google searching for metal in vinyl, and I found links to Metallica and Whitesnake records, but no stories about the metal embedded in the vinyl. So, can you prove me wrong, or just remind me that I’m not all that gullible. Please! Anyone have any information about such a wild claim?
128x128soundermn
moonglum
619 posts
 

My guess is the OP is referring to the existence of non-virgin vinyl(?)

 

In the early 1970s some records were composed of this re-processed vinyl which sadly included fragments from the tungsten steel grinder blades of the machines used to chew it up. The concern here (for me at least) is not whether these fragments are slightly magnetised but what happens when those fragments collide with the stylus! The other concern is that if loosened/dislodged (and if truly magnetic in nature) that fragment will fly straight into the generator and stay there :O

...and there's not much a Furutech can do about that ;^)

Not good. :(

whart's avatar
whart
3,039 posts
 
@moonglum - well done. I gather that regrinding is still common today, but that the issue of metal fragments is not as much of a problem. See [url]https://www.ptonline.com/articles/a-vinyl-record-business-grows-in-brooklyn[/url]
I was told recently by someone-- he'd have to elaborate- that the end product today actually comes out better with some proportion of regrind.
I can't give you specifics, but could reach out to him to see if he'll chime in here.
FWIW, I treasure one of my early Sounds of the South Skynyrd pressings with paper flecks pressed into the vinyl. :)
moonglum
619 posts
 
Very interesting article Whart.

After my local record shop had been refurbished in the mid-70s I remember buying an LP that had half a packet of small headed nails inside the sleeve. It brought new meaning to the idea of finding metal fragments in your vinyl :) :)
lewm
13,070 posts
 
Moonglum, You have a vivid imagination, indeed.  You'd better get one of those Furutechs.

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

One can see those ''black small particles'' around the stylus and

cantilever by nearly all carts. The magnets in (MC) carts certainly

attract them. The only advantage of this fact is that one will

know this way that such cart is not new (grin).

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