Audio signs of record wear.

My original post did not get past the censors. My main point was that it is impossible to unravel surface noise from the music despite what unconditional supporters of the black discs like to claim. The usual argument is that one can disregard the surface noise and just hear the music and that, unlike digital, there is music to be found in analog reproduction even below the noise floor.

I can tell you that once a record surface is affected any number of things can and do occur to the music. The high frequencies are the first to be affected since they are reproduced by the smallest of indentations in the vinyl and are likeliest to be the first victims when the vinyl is deformed.

Face it, a vinyl record is best prior to its first playing and deteriorates thereafter. The speed and effect of such deterioration can be debated ad nauseum but that one fact remains: vinyl is delicate.

That statement you made at the end of your post about vinyl deterioration is not correct.I am reminded of an article in Stereophile by it's editor John Atkinson.He found that the high-frequency info was still present on a worn old record he had made with his band in the 70's.Wear is one thing in terms of physical damage of course,but records do not deteriorate per se and still retain the bulk of their info it seems.

All opinions appreciated. Thanks