Tips on Buying Quiet Quality sounding LP's

I have a different viewpoint from Mapman about used vinyl. I am of the opinion that no amount of careful visual inspection can guarantee quiet vinyl. There are some LPs that look immaculate (i.e. no scratches, scuffs, dents or dings), but in fact have groove damage that makes them noisy.

The best way to buy used vinyl is to identify sellers from whom you've purchased vinyl who share your personal standards for grading LPs. Once you know that you and a seller have the same criteria, then you can be reasonably assured that when these sellers claim their vinyl is quiet, then it will be quiet.

So Mapman...what do you look for to detrmine good physical condition?...clearly any visual scratches are a no, no...but what else do you focus on to determine "good condition?"...thx

Another good site to search is Music Angle (Michael Fremer's web site) devoted to reviewing music. You can search a particular title and pull the review and there will be a rating on the music and the quality of the sound. The quality of sound incorporates both recording/mastering quality and the quality of the pressings.

Tvad's approach is a practical one. You are essentially relying on an expert to make the determination in advance for you on a title that you are interested in. That will work but will carry a cost premium of some sort which may or may not matter depending on the individual.

Groove damage is common and harder to spot reliably perhaps than other types of defects, like scratches, etc., but it can be done.

I typically buy a dozen or more used lps at a time when I find them, often for $1.00 or less. Its like picking out fruit at the market. If you are good at it, most of the time you can weed out the defective or damaged ones.

Many of these are titles I have never heard or heard of before that I am willing to try in the interest of new discoveries. Having been collecting for years, most titles that I really care about I probably already own. Inexpensive used lps are a very cost effective way to trow new waters musically, I find, especially if you are open minded to music recorded years ago, which is when vinyl was king.

I've probably acquired a couple hundred used lps over the last year this way and I would estimate less than 6 were unlistenable. 80% or more sounded very good or better (once cleaned).

Identifying good sounding lps is both an art and a science and can be very hit or miss though. But the audio rewards can be great, even if a few bad apples make it through inspection.

I've probably acquired a couple hundred used lps over the last year this way and I would estimate less than 6 were unlistenable. 80% or more sounded very good or better.
Mapman (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers)

The other part of this equation, and one that has been discussed at length in other threads, is the definition of what is listenable (or good , or quiet, or...insert term here). What we have learned through the discussions is that the term *listenable* varies greatly from individual to individual. Hence, the value in finding sellers that share your definitions.