I don’t usually go click-baity, but here we are. Lately I’ve had a wave of messages from viewers saying their new LPs arrive scratched, noisy, warped, or wedged so tightly in sleeves you need a hairdryer (apparently!) to get them out.
My own recent purchases tell the same story: some glorious, silent cuts… mixed with scuffed discs, split seams, noisy run-ins and pressings that lift the arm before the last track finishes. So let’s talk about it—properly—and I’d love your experiences in the comments below. I’m going to collate them and pass them to labels and industry contacts so your voices are heard.
What I Mean by a “Great Pressing”
Simple: I put the record on and only hear the music. Quiet passages are quiet, there are no random clicks, no stitching, no non-fill—just the album. That’s it.
Recently I praised a half-speed master of Crime of the Century cut at Abbey Road—my copy is beautifully quiet and musical. But several of you bought the same release and heard surface noise or defects. I believe you. That variance is the problem.
Quality Control Roulette
A few recent examples from my shelves:
Brand-new discs with factory scratches. Ambient and classical titles are especially unforgiving here—one scratch ruins the mood.
Over-tight inner sleeves. 180g discs stuffed into 140g-sized paper sleeves = scuffs and a wrestling match to extract the LP.
Pressing faults. Odd whooshes, repeating ticks, or a side that triggers auto-lift before the final track ends (because the dead-wax is comically small).
Shipping carnage. Split seams and records poking through inners—heavy vinyl rattling around in transit doesn’t help.
Credit where it’s due: Inside Out (Sony) consistently ship with the LP outside the jacket and in poly-lined inners. Their titles arrive pristine and play silently for me. Whoever set that standard—don’t let them leave.
180g, Half-Speed, Limited… or Just Marketing?
I’ve bought records since 1972. Some of my flattest, quietest, most thrilling LPs are lighter vintage pressings—Montrose (1973) still sounds fabulous and sits dead-flat. Weight doesn’t guarantee quality; process control does. Likewise, “half-speed” on the sticker means nothing if the actual press is noisy.
Why Buying Vinyl Now Comes with… Anxiety
Back in the 70s/80s I’d buy an album, jump on the bus, pore over the artwork—and at home I’d cue the track I wanted (yes, mixtape makers, we all did it!) and enjoy the music. Clicks were rare, returns were rarer. I didn’t own an ultrasonic cleaner. I had a carbon brush and a smile.
Today, vinyl is priced like a luxury item, while CDs—often a third of the price—play flawlessly every time. If vinyl is going to command premium money, the experience must wow on day one and spin 50 plays later without drama.
A Quick Nod to History
The late-80s/early-90s vinyl slump gave us many overlong LPs squeezed from CD programs—thin, noisy sides that pushed me (and many of you) to CD at the time. As vinyl returned, expectations rose. The jackets are gorgeous again, the formats are fun—but the fundamentals must keep pace.
My System (for context)
Nothing exotic: Technics 1500C, ~£200 cartridge, Fosi Audio Box X5 phono stage. It’s a sensible, real-world rig. CDs on a budget player still sound consistently excellent. Vinyl should clear the same bar for reliability.
What I’m Asking You
I genuinely want your stories—good, bad, and ugly. I’ll compile them (unfiltered) and send a summary to labels, pressing plants, and distributors.
- Which new releases played perfectly for you?
- Which labels/pressing plants impress you—or worry you?
- Are you returning more LPs than you used to?
- Has the price vs reliability changed your buying habits?
- Do poly-lined inners and “LP outside the jacket” shipping make a difference for you?
- Do you feel 180g/half-speed deliver audible benefits in practice?
Drop your thoughts below or on the Now Spinning website post. I’ll report back on any responses from the industry.
Where I’ve Landed (for now)
Vinyl can still be magical—artwork, ritual, and (when done right) sound.
Stickers don’t equal quality. Quiet vinyl and careful packing do.
Consistency is king. One person’s perfect copy shouldn’t be another’s rice-krispies.
This is fixable. Better QC, better inners, better shipping, better accountability.
Watch & Subscribe
If this resonates, watch the video, leave a comment, and consider joining the Now Spinning community (Patreon/YouTube Members). You’ll see content first and can pop into our friendly virtual pub, The Now Spinning Arms, twice a month.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
