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Why are records still warped?

This is more of a grouse than anything because I know the molding process won't ever be perfect. Still, here we are in the 21st century in the midst of a vinyl revival. Artists get it and are trying to satisfy us geeks with tasty pressings.

Cases in point are Bennett & Gaga's "Cheek to Cheek" and Lennox' "Nostalgia." Ordered both of them in (live in the sticks so no local source) and one dished, the other warped. Neither are unplayable, but both conditions are audible. Disappointing to say the least on such outstanding efforts.

The same week they arrived, I got copies of Hampton's "Silver Vibes" (mono) and Mendes' "Look Around" used at a swap meet. Perfectly flat with outstanding fidelity, especially considering their age.

Many of my "not" Golden-era pressings from the mid-70s through late-80s also lived up to expectations when I got them home. Many more did not, and that's why I ended up jumping on the CD bandwagon with a Sony CDP-101 in 1983.

In 2015, my digital playback deck is about 1000% better, CDs are better, SACDs are even better still, HD downloads can be superb, but still none of them best vinyl at its best. Unless it's warped.

We have the technology, know better and can better control the process. So, what is up with the warp thing? Is it laziness, budget or what?!?
effischer
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Bdp24
New LPs are warped either because they were removed from the LP stamper before they had cooled sufficiently, or because they were not transported and stored properly after they left the pressing plant, or both.

The record labels and the pressing plants all say that demand is so high for manufacturing vinyl that their orders are backed up. There was a thread on Steve Hoffman, I believe, where somebody stated that the cooling stage had been shortened as one way to speed up the process. I'm sure there are other areas where vinyl production specs don't measure up to the original days of record cutting. Especially quality control as previously mentioned.

On a personal note, I returned "Mothership" 3 times to Amazon all with the same problem...a clicking sound thruout side one. It would seem an entire batch of product was shipped out w/o being checked.

" A small percentage will warp down the road because the molecules in that particular shot of material happened to all have lengths at one end of the distribution range (be it long or short) which completely changes the rheology of the flow of the material which changes the internal stresses."

Makes a lot of sense as far as new vinyl or the original cutting days.
moonglum
619 posts
 
WPC,
Very helpful information. Scary to think that the LPs are warping in their sleeves for reasons other than gravity/heat(!)

Given your level of insight, perhaps you are the man to ask about MRA? Any idea why there appear to be such severe differences in different samples of 180g vinyl? Some appear to exude very little and can be played "straight out of the bag" while some are real stinkers and are more akin to trying to plow a field :(
Is it just bad chemistry?? ;^)

Cheers,
wattsperchannel
142 posts
 

06-02-15: Lowrider57

The record labels and the pressing plants all say that demand is so high for manufacturing vinyl that their orders are backed up. There was a thread on Steve Hoffman, I believe, where somebody stated that the cooling stage had been shortened as one way to speed up the process. I'm sure there are other areas where vinyl production specs don't measure up to the original days of record cutting. Especially quality control as previously mentioned.

Lowrider, I am certain your are correct. Bad manufacturing practices just make all the problems I have discussed even worse.


06-03-15: Moonglum
Given your level of insight, perhaps you are the man to ask about MRA?

I am not familiar with MRA's quality issues but what you describe (if I had to guess) is probably more related to bad practices.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Let's face the truth, you will find always AND everywhere expanations why this or that is the way it is... forget it. You can sum it up in one sentence today:
No clue from anything.
When the plants closed in the 90's all the know how was gone, too. Those who knew something lost their job, retired or looked for a different work. With the comeback of vinyl everyone was hired who was able to recognize a record two out of three tries.
analogluvr
859 posts
 
So WPC is it safe to assume that a heavier 180g record will potentially warp more than a 120g due to there simply being more material which could pull in multiple directions ?
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