returning vinyl for warpage?

I'm glad this thread came up again, it gets discussed often enough, but I've noticed that many more records that I've purchased (new) in the past 2-3 years have been warped.

I've especially noticed that the albums that are so called 'audiophile quality' '180 gram!' pressings suffer the same problems as some of the much cheaper records. center holes punched of center, scary lip warps, etc.

I know the 180 gram argument is tired, but when you are buying these albums that are advertised as the best quality pressing yet, and are priced as such, you should get what is advertised. Instead you get, in my opinion, suckerd.

This has to be a Q/A thing happing at the plants. I've got records that are decades older than myself that are glass flat and probably were stored like an old couch for many hears. So, does anyone have any ideas?

Not letting the vinyl cool properly? Shrink wrapping too tightly or getting the heat source to close to the product? Different vinyl compositions due to environmental regulations or overall cost savings?

I just dont buy the damaged in transit argument anymore, because all my records were transported similarly 8-10 years ago as they are today.

for the record, I agree with Jaybo, that if it plays fine its fine, but I can help but think it imparts some unnecessary wear on the cantelever and suspension of the cartridge.

It's not the easiest or most economic desicson, but I bought a periphery ring so I wouldn't have to worry about that again.

Macdadtexas, I have thought about getting a ring but I am not sure there is one compatable with a Rega p-5? Or is it a one size fits all type thing?

No_money,

Do you use a record clamp of any sort?

I ask, because I have a Basis turntable, and I use their proprietary clamp, and I never have an issue with warped records. I just play right through through them, and the stylus just tracks great. It is not a periphery ring, of the sort that VPI makes, but still, it does seem to flatten out the records so that I have not had ANY issues with any of the new records I have purchased, or even the older, used, records that I buy.

You might want to check into getting some sort of clamp first, and see if that works. (I am sure that it is much less expensive, albeit it probably is not as effective as a peripherial ring, in reducing warpage.

Also, you might want to check with Rega, or your Rega dealer, as to what they recommend. Some turntables do not work well with heavy clamps.

My two cents worth anyway.

I would definitely not apply heat to it. There is an estimated 1000,000 bits of information in every inch of record groove which is why digital , with about a relative third of that, still can't compete with a great pick-up system. If your tone-arm is reverberating, it's definitely causing undo stress. If it's a tall, gradual warp, it's affecting the anti-skate position for that segment as well as rake angle. Depending on how much of a privilege it is to obtain records these days in your area, I would take it back.