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Why is some vinyl noisy?

I'm listening to a copy of "This Is The Moody Blues", a very fine record store find, and I'm amazed at how noisy the vinyl sounds compared to it's physical condition.

The record is nice and flat, looks great in bright light, heavyweight. It's very clean as it's just been through my VPI 16.5 cleaner with two fluid baths. The rig it's playing on is plenty good enough to get the best from this record: VPI Scoutmaster, Sumiko Blackbird, McCormack & Krell downstream.

Yet, this is a noisy, clicky, poppy ride. I don't get it. Is some vinyl just plain noisy, or is some surface damage too hard to detect? By the same token, an ancient, clearly scuffed RCA Living Stereo recording of Van Cliburn just sounds terrific.
forddonald
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I'm always amazed when I play stuff that even after cleaning looks bad but plays breat. I have some that look perfect but play like s**t. You never know until you play em'.
Analogphil (System | Threads | Answers)

Exactly.

This is the minefield that people need to consider before they jump into vinyl if they're starting from ground zero.
forddonald OP
2 posts
 
Very illuminating, thanks! Maybe this explains why my Cat Stevens albums sounds so remarkably good when they arguably shouldn't (not a major artist) and why CCR records are hit and miss.

At least I know it's not me or my cartridge! Now it's back to the dark majiks of setting tonearm alignment and other fiddly things I'm learning how to do for the first time.
mcp
2 posts
 
It is a strange thing...some LPs that look like they were used for frisbees sound great -- and nice, glossy copies sound terrible. This is why I try not to give up on older LPs I run across in thrift stores (especially considering that they're 3/$1). Picked up 7 or 8 London mono Rolling Stones LPs a few weeks ago that looked just plain awful. After a good cleaning, they sound terrific; the odd click here and there, but thoroughly enjoyable.
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 
After using a 16.5 for about ten years, I finally figured out that some records with such problems require a full 1-2 minutes cleaning per side with lots of fluid before they give up their clicks & pops. Perhaps worth a try.
tfkaudio
589 posts
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but a record played with a damaged stylus will tear up the material inside the grooves, but the record may look perfect to the naked eye. With used records, this is a very real possibility. I just threw out a Phildelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy LP of The William Tell Overture and other overtures (Columbia Masterworks). It looked totally mint but was completely wrecked.

So I'm out a dollar.

Cheers.
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