New Records noisy

Excellent topic - a problem I had noted with some dismay, given you are often paying a significant premium for these LP's.

I bought over 80 Classic Records in the last 12 month. Most of them are in a great quality, especially the 1S box sets. From time to time there are records which I have to send back. Mostly because they are scratched. The noise on the records are from band hiss. I have to point out that I am talking about classical music, recordings from the 50/60. Lately I bought some 45 rpm Mercury Living Presence (Classic Records) which make a odd noise. It sounds like a pressing bubble, but not repeatedly. Like a quiet pop. At first I thought there is something wrong with my system. But I found out that I don't have it with other records. Only with the 4 45rpm records from Mercury. 6 month ago I had some big trouble with the reissues from Speakers Corner. Almost every record was damaged. They had a scratch from a wire. So as if someone takes a wire and scratches the LP several times. And then there is TheMusic.com. I think they are somehow connected to Classic Records, anyways. They have a so called "Hand Select" service. Which apparently does not work. I received some LP's which had quite some damage. I did send them back for return. The LPs which came back had even more damage. I gave up on them. I mostly order now from Acoustic Sounds. And I gave up to send every LP with a small scratch back. Otherwise I have to pay more for shipment than the whole LP costs. This is just how LPs are. If I want perfection I have to buy CDs. But then, the sound from a LP is still unbeatable. At least to my ears with my system.

i didnt say i couldn't hear a difference. i said they are very overrated. i've had many where disc 1 was noisy and disc 2 was quiet.

" If I want perfection I have to buy CDs ", well, I don't want to "see" that so "black/white", but when I started this topic, I wanted to say, a few years ago I bought nearly everything, which was offered and I was very satisfied with the qualitiy. I don't mean tape noise or something like that, that's ok for me, I mean noises and pops and groove noises which makes a Record nearly unlistenable and my next experience is, a few CR get worse after playing them a few times. Seems I am not alone with my frustration ...

Sorry Thomas, I didn't mean to be b&w. I am on your side.;) And it is absolutely unacceptable to spend some $120 on "The Royal Ballet Gala Performance" 45rpm reissue, and then you have to send the LP back because it is damaged. This happened to me. The LP had some serious pressing damages. There were some kind of dust burned into the record. And the substitutes, which I received, has still some problems. I have not had the noise problem yet. But I think that is because I mainly buy 180g records, which were pressed a few years ago. IMO, if you want a premium price, as a company like CR, then you have to deliver premium quality.