Records are getting noisy


I asked this as part of someone else's string last week, but I am getting a little more irated every day with this problem. Some of my new vinyl (bought within the last year) is starting to get lots of pops and cracks. Not scratches, not skips, just pops and clicks. Drives me crazy.

All records are cleaned with VPI 16.5(Walker method right now, and steamed if the problems doesn't get any better), machine and tubes are working perfectly. All records then get ZeroStat after cleaning and put into MoFi sleeves. Records are then cleaned with an Audioquest brush prior to playing.

I have even tried Gruv Glide, and no change on certain records. I am listening to one of my all time favs right now, Shelby Lynne "Just a Little Lovin" and it's driving me crazy. The record is clean, has always been well cared for, and now it's a crackin, poppin, annoying mess!!

What have I done, and how do I fix it???
macdadtexas
When you do the Zerostat, can you ever see static going out of the LP? The fibers on my micro-fiber cloth stand up until I hit the record (and cloth) with the Zerostat and then I see them relax. When you do the final blast with the ZS, make sure nothing is touching the LP.

Look for some sign that the ZS is working, like seeing if the LP will raise the hairs on your arm prior to application and not do so afterward.

Dave
Macdadtexas
Curious problem your having, is it a specific re-issue label you are having a problem with or is it a variety of new label pressings and re-issues?
For the most part I think these new record labels now a day's the people behind them do not know what they are doing.

Like so many things today, I think past techniques and knowledge was simply ignored and discounted as archaic,or even misunderstood.... this is the state of the present and future of this hobby.

My record collection spans five decades with some of my favorite music pressed on thin vinyl released back as far as 1953 with excellent sonics and zero play back problems.

Syntax
Do you have the double Lp or the 4 single side Lps of Alexander Gibson?

Classic Record re-issue of the R.C.A. Living Stereo of Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall 33 1/3 including the box set on 8 single side Lps At Carnegie Hall are revelatory.
What they did so right with these re-issues is a mystery, with others that are known to be equally great recordings they messed up.

Stilskin, good point, it does only seem to be on the newer records. Let me test that, thx.
Over time that happened to most of my treasured vinyl albums. My experience is that a great analog set-up beats a great digital set-up when the analog side has everything at the apex of performance. Unfortunately, that apex is virtually impossible to maintain over time thus swinging the quality experience over to digital on the long haul.
even with the pops, i would take vinyl over digital any day, no comparison. Digital really does sound much thinner and hollow in comparison. I have never heard a great digital front end sound as good as a moderate vinyl one. I'll struggle through this and listen to all the music, instead of the digital sample.