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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
moonglum
605 posts
 
Damped vs undamped is a Pandora's box.
The best (only?) way to action TTW's suggestion is to own a vacuum T/T which clamps the disc over it's entire surface area. This effectively rules out 99.999% of turntable owners.
Decades ago the major argument against clamping was that it actively stresses the vinyl during play.

FWIW with my current mass damped T/T, I'm firmly a member of the undamped brigade.

Here's a heartening story for the OP : I often accumulate new LPs but don't play them with the intention of getting them cleaned first. Yesterday I took a chance and played one that had been stored, uncleaned from new since 2013. Opening it for the first time, it was "ruler flat", no discernible warps. Hole and label registration were very good. The LP played as if it had just been scrupulously cleaned. Noise floor was inky black. Transient peaks tracked perfectly and cleanly throughout the entire record. This 180g was a triumph of LP manufacture that harked back to the halcyon days of the 70s & 80s when no one had even heard of MRA and uncleaned LPs bought new still sound perfect today.
czarivey
4,494 posts
 
so even slightly warped vinyl (really thought that it's ok) won't match sacd while perfectly straight one is better?
moonglum
605 posts
 
Is that an Analogue vs Digital question? That's an even bigger Pandora's Box ;^)

Personally I don't pay any attention to whether the LP is warped or not. It's very uncommon for warps to be troublesome. The last time I saw such an occurrence was in a demo featuring an SME V. When it reached the middle of the playing side the edge of the warp clipped the arm, throwing it up in the air to land with an Armaggedon like impact that sent shockwaves through the room. I thought we were under attack! Then it re-enacted that impact repeatedly as if in a locked groove...

Also recall Bob Graham had a trick which involved placing a stack of cards under one edge of the LP during play to prove that unipivots can indeed track severely warped discs without de-stabilising.
Quite impressive!
mapman's avatar
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mapman
15,679 posts
 
Warped records used to be a problem for me with various Japanese and European tables until I started with the Linn Axis back in the mid-80s. It tracks almost everything silently. Have had no casue for concern though I know my records cannot be any less warped now then they were 30 years ago. Probably more. Its part of the record aging process. Some are better preserved and age better than others, like Jim Palmer. :^)
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