Ticks and POPS are (if the LP has been cleaned) usually visible before I even started. I inspect LPs carefully before I buy. If they have any visible scratches.. I pass.
If you hold an LP up to sunlight and angle it just right, you can see a shimmering, almost rainbow quality in the grooves, and any defect will become visible)
(I already threw away thousands of slightly scratched LPs when I moved)
The 6,000 I have now will suffice if I can't find ones worth buying.
The best place where I buy used (secret) I can return stuff for credit, for any reason (I do NOT abuse this). They try hard to NOT buy damaged vinyl. And if it has a scuff or whatever,(and they bought it because it is rare or in demand) they mark it down.
As for how much noise I will accept: I will not put up with a repeating tic for more than three tics, and only one like that per LP. 3 tics seems to be my limit. Surface noise from deeper scuffs (that grating sound) I will also tolerate for a few turns of the table, and only one such per LP. The vast majority of my LPs are quiet.. but being an old hand (since 1965, yeah, I am a really old bag.) at LPs, I can say I know what I want in LP playback.
If you hold an LP up to sunlight and angle it just right, you can see a shimmering, almost rainbow quality in the grooves, and any defect will become visible)
(I already threw away thousands of slightly scratched LPs when I moved)
The 6,000 I have now will suffice if I can't find ones worth buying.
The best place where I buy used (secret) I can return stuff for credit, for any reason (I do NOT abuse this). They try hard to NOT buy damaged vinyl. And if it has a scuff or whatever,(and they bought it because it is rare or in demand) they mark it down.
As for how much noise I will accept: I will not put up with a repeating tic for more than three tics, and only one like that per LP. 3 tics seems to be my limit. Surface noise from deeper scuffs (that grating sound) I will also tolerate for a few turns of the table, and only one such per LP. The vast majority of my LPs are quiet.. but being an old hand (since 1965, yeah, I am a really old bag.) at LPs, I can say I know what I want in LP playback.