Is it ok to stack LPs horizontally?


I have run out of storage room and have a couple of horizontally stacked records. Not more than 20 in each stack.

Am I inviting warping?

mglik

Right. The proper way to store records is upright between upright bookend or cabinet walls snuggly but not tightly packed. Records should slide in and out easily. Upright storage lends itself to easy accession and cataloging. It is essential to protect records from any heat source.

You do not store records stacked horizontally. Records are not flat. The label and rim are elevated standing proud of the playing surface of the record. If one record is a little off from another the rim will sink down at the unsupported area. Add a little heat and you have a perfect warp machine. The upmost record is exposed and at risk. Why? The most common cause of record warping is???? The sun shining through a window landing on exposed records. During the day the sun travels across the sky scanning the better part of many rooms. 2-3 minutes of focused heat is all it takes. If you leave your records lying around exposed and have any unblinded windows facing the sun it is only a matter of time before one gets nailed.

If you look at my system page you will see a proper record cabinet. Note the records stand 1/2" proud of the shelves. This makes it much easier to get the records out without damaging the cover. Put one finger above and one below. The record slides right out. 

LP records are thicker in the middle. Some outer edges are thicker than others, but generally, not as thick as the centers (labels, etc.). So, stack 'em like pancakes and they will sag and not uniformly - they warp. The warp sends a very low, sub audio, frequency into your gear, drives it nuts, keeps changing the VTA (relationship between the stylus and the groove walls) and generally makes a mess. Besides, how are you going to pull out that favorite disk you havent played in a few years when there are 57 records piled on top of it? Stay vertical, friend.

Most turntables play slightly warped LPs fine. What they cant play are compressed recording grooves. LPs weigh a ton. Storing them flat can press the groves. vertical is the only way to go.