ili (04/12/83)
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ili (04/12/83)
I know that the problem of poor quality records (clicks and pops on the surface upon the first playing) and the ethics of home taping has been discussed (probably more than once) on the net. I don't mean to start up that discussion again but to look at it from another angle. I have spent mucho buck$ to put together a decent system and am now experiencing the frustration of good eqpt. and lousy program material. Is there anything that we (net.audioers) can do as a concerted group effort to let the proper people know how we feel? Ira Idelson American Bell
sdo (04/13/83)
I always get even for poor quality products by writing poor quality software. Scott Orshan
jeff (04/13/83)
The general feeling is that foreign pressings are superior to domestic pressings, and that you shouldn`t hope for too much on pop records anyway. Are you sure it`s the record`s fault? A spinning record, especially a static-charged one, will attract dust from the air due to both the charge and the aerodynamics of the atmosphere above the platter. Therefore, you should use a static de-charger before every player (e.g., Zero-Stat); use a Dust Bug or equivalent brush that tracks the record as it plays; and keep the dust cover on your player while playing. The problem of dust accumulation during play makes pre-play cleaning insufficient. Really abused records--ones that have been played with dirt on them--have to be washed. You can actually do this in a regular dishwasher using dishwashing soap if the water temperature isn`t too high. Few people believe this, however, and few ever try it. In Japan there are several record vacuums that have motor-driven plush rollers which simultaneously sweep and vacuum; they`re about the size of a pocket calculator and rotate around the center hole of the record while the record is on the turntable, to cover the entire surface. One, made by Hitachi, is called the "Lo-D" and costs about $10. It`s quite effective for dust which has not yet been ground into the grooves, and as a pre-playing treatment (before all the other steps recommended before and during play). And, people say that once a record has been played wet --i.e., with a groove-follower wetted with an anti-static or other cleaning fluid-- it always has to be played wet. Thus, use your Dust Bug dry. Once you see a Dust Bug, you`ll understand. jeff
kar (04/13/83)
How can we audioers express our discontent with the quality of records? Express your displeasure via the marketplace. If you get a record that is of poor quality, take it back and exchange it. If the next one is also a dud, take it back too. Repeat until you get a good one. If they're all bad, suggest (after the 6th or 7th exchange) an exchange for a record of equal value on a different label. The store management might just consider you enough of a nuisance by then to let you do it. As for the manufacturers: if they start getting cases of records that consumers have complained about back from retailers, they might take notice. It would certainly affect their (allegedly minute) profit margins. This method requires an investment of time on your part, but if every- body does it we may get somewhere. (What a crock! Where have you heard that before?) - Ken Reek, Rochester Institute of Technology ucbvax!allegra!rochester!ritcv!kar
davee (04/14/83)
The only thing I have found to combat poor record quality is to buy imports. This may not be acceptable to most of you, since record stores usually carry imports of records not available in the US. Being a punk, this means that I can get what I want as an import, but others have a problem. Half speed master records are fine if you like the kind of records that come out. The only other way is to (God forbid) tape the records when they are played on the radio. That way it doesn't cost you, except by rising record costs due to home tapers. David