Picture Discs

Colored discs and picture discs are different in sound quality. Color disks are no compromise to non-color releases while picture discs will bring you rumble and surface noise.

Take a 16p nail and put it on a wall.

Yeah, picture discs can be ok… but not much better. I’ve got multiple colored vinyl. Black chips are becoming harder to get. I like the fun factor and sound quality isn’t an issue if the pressing itself is worth anything.

Yeah…Picture discs do suck. I’m an ELP freak as well and I have the MFSL LP mint. I always steer clear of RSD stuff and wait until remaining stock is available the day/week after.

I once bought a Selena greatest hits dbl. disc picture set for my Wife. She’s hearing impaired and noticed something sounded “off”. Honestly, I’ve heard this music several times digitally both compressed (mp3) and on CD.

The LP was no better than it’s compressed counterparts !

But she appreciated the thought. Once in a while she’ll ask me to give it a spin for fun.

Colored discs in the other hand to my ears have no detrimental audible effects. Personally I’ll take a clear, black, or any solid colored pressings. The new DSOTM was pressed correctly in this regard. Honestly, to my ears and in my rig. It’s the cleanest, most open, and passes my Us and Them test when the track climax’s/crescendo’s during certain parts of the song. I actually prefer it now for two channel dedicated listening over my various CD’s and ripped LP versions.

Picture discs have always been known to be of poorer quality. I have only two of them out of over 2k albums and they are both noisy. It's just for the novelty of it and would be better displayed on your wall than played on your rig.

Another type of vinyl to stay away from, are transparent ones as they are much less resistant to wear. In the end, black vinyl still rules.