Record Care
Does Surface Noise Go Away After Cleaning? An Honest Answer
Does cleaning remove surface noise? Honestly, it removes one kind completely and does nothing for the rest. Cleaning eliminates dust,…
Category: Record Care
Cleaning, sleeves, anti-static, and long-term care for vinyl records.
Record Care
One Channel Sounds Noisier Than the Other on Vinyl
When one channel sounds noisier than the other on vinyl, the fault is in the signal path for that channel…
Record Care
Loud Pops in Quiet Passages: Dust, Damage, or Both
Loud pops on vinyl that jump out in quiet passages are almost always dust or a pinpoint of damage sitting…
Record Care
Hiss and Hum Through the Speakers: Tracing Vinyl Noise
Hiss and hum through the speakers on a vinyl setup are electrical faults, not surface noise — they are present…
Record Care
Rhythmic Ticking on a Record: Spotting a Scratch by Ear
Rhythmic ticking on a record is the signature of physical damage — a scratch, gouge, or debris that the stylus…
Record Care
New Vinyl Sounds Noisy: Pressing Defects vs Setup Issues
When new vinyl sounds noisy, the cause splits cleanly into two camps: pressing defects that came from the plant, and…
Record Care
Crackle on Every Record: Static, Dust, or Worn Stylus?
Crackle on every record almost always means the problem is in your system, not your collection. When the same fine,…
Record Care
Vinyl Surface Noise: Causes and How to Diagnose It by Ear
Vinyl surface noise causes fall into four families that each have a distinct sound signature: dust and static (a broadband…
Record Care
How to Clean Used Records: Thrift Finds, Mold, and Deep Grime
Used records are the best value in the hobby and the dirtiest thing you will ever put near your stylus.…
Record Care
Record Inner and Outer Sleeves: A Buyer Guide for Vinyl
The sleeve is where cleaning becomes storage, and the stock paper inner that came with your record is quietly working…