Bought my first new audiophile LP...back it goes

I've heard of brand new LPs having fingerprints on them, apparently from people in the production facility. A stain would seem a bit much though. Maybe somebody at the factory spilled their Starbuck's latte on it :)

I have purchased about 150 new "audiophile" pressings in the past two years and have had to return 8, which were very quickly exchanged. I really like the 180gm the most. I have perhaps had better luck than most of the previous posters, my Prarie Winds is as quiet as a CD. I would give it another try and make sure you purchase from someone who will gladly take it back in return.

Dont have such problems with cd's......:-)

Sorry, couldn't resist. One of these days I will try vinyl and probably be enlightened but.....

My new Norah Jones had a 2" scratch, but others have all been fine.

Matty: Vinyl is the ultimate form of manic-depressive audiophilia. When it's bad, it's really bad, but when it's great, it's simply much closer to the musical experience. And, when it's mediocre, it's still better than CD. Much more work than CD, though, and not for the faint of heart. If the bulk of your musical preferences are in the late 50's to late early 80's (which mine are) it is the only way to fly, both qualitatively and economically providing you are a bit shrewd and have access to decent quantities of used vinyl. And there are decent quantities of new vinyl out there of very high quality at $10-$20 a record if you seek them out.