Vinyl Ignorance

[NickNack]

Can someone clue me in:

What does "180 GRAM PRESSING" mean when someone is speaking of vinyl? I'm assuming they're talking a 'better grade' of material but do you need special equipment to play it?

Thanks for your expertise.

Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, :)
Nicky

[BrunoRepublic]

All it means is that it's pressed on thick vinyl like how they used to make records in the 50s and 60s, unlike the flimsy pressings of the 70s onward. Ideally, it should also be good quality vinyl, but that isn't always the case.

I bought PSB's "Disco 3" on 3x12" vinyl when it came out. Although not advertised as such, it must be 180-gram pressings because they each weigh a ton. Although there's barely a pop or click to be heard, there is noise throughout the left channel on most of the set.

[BrunoRepublic]

They'll play on any turntable. Vinyl purists might tweak the VTA on their tonearms, but the vast majority of people wouldn't need to make any adjustments.

[Forrrce]

Also bear in mind that it's largely a ploy these days to get more money out of the consumer. Unless done properly by specialist audiophile concerns, there's usually zero difference in reproduction over standard vinyl weights.

[BrunoRepublic]

Well, in theory, they are more resistant to warping. That was a big problem with North American vinyl from the 70s onward, which seemed to be much softer and prone to warpage than the UK or German imports I bought at the time. But yeah, in terms of sonics, no real difference. I don't object to heavier records, but the benefits are not worth the premium prices that these discs command IMO.

[Forrrce]

The premium prices are merely a tax on the 'feel-good factor', which the 180-gram scam provides among the more susceptible. :)

[Bernie]

Nicky, what records are you looking at that are on 180 gram vinyl: Disco or rock, jazz reissues?

What may be more important is that it be pressed on "virgin vinyl" so that there is less surface noise. I have the David Bowie Rykodisc vinyl boxset from the early 90s and it is beautiful to hear as it is so clean.

Another thing to look out for is DMM (Direct Metal Master) which helps greatly in reducing pre and post echo.

Combine all this with 180 gram vinyl and :D

[NickNack]

Thank you, gentlemen. I knew you'd come through for me.

Bernie - I wasn't' looking at anything in particular. I just kept seeing that phrase, "180 Gram Pressing", over and over and it was bugging me. At least I know now that that phrase alone shouldn't impress me. THANKS GUYS!!

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by Bernie

Another thing to look out for is DMM (Direct Metal Master) which helps greatly in reducing pre and post echo.

But DMM has its own set of issues. My understanding was that It doesn't work well for 12" singles, because the grooves need to be shallow, which means that they can't be cut very loud. The DMM LPs I have are crisp and bright, but wouldn't the combo of bright sound and shallow groove sound awful with a DJ cartridge? Even at their low volumes, I had horrible mistracking problems with my DMM LPs until I got the Shure V15....

[Bernie]

Originally Posted by Graham_Start

But DMM has its own set of issues. My understanding was that It doesn't work well for 12" singles, because the grooves need to be shallow, which means that they can't be cut very loud. The DMM LPs I have are crisp and bright, but wouldn't the combo of bright sound and shallow groove sound awful with a DJ cartridge? Even at their low volumes, I had horrible mistracking problems with my DMM LPs until I got the Shure V15....

That's interesting and something I haven't heard before. I have a real nice German DMM 12" 45 RPM pressing from the mid 1980s. --- Going to play it now as it's the only thing I can easily find right now...

I'm back. I played the DMM 12" and it was very clean with a nice tight bottom end-not exaggerated or muddy. I think some may be used to that boomy sound and the better mastering supposedly done on DMM discs gives a more natural sound. I would probably agree that in a DJ environment that mixing DMM and non-DMM records would create mismatches in levels and bass energy, but for home use perhaps not an issue especially for those seeking better sound.

I think single-sided records would go well with DMM since I'm assuming the depth issue has to do with not interfering the grooves on the other side.

[Bernie]

I just received an e-mail with the following on a new Neil Young album due out soon:

After listening tests at the Ranch Neil Young decided that Classic's 200g Super Vinyl Profile was to be used exclusively for this long anticipated release which includes favorites such as "Cinnamon Girl",

The battle of one-upmanship begins. The heavyweight vinyl champion is...

[QUINNY]

Originally Posted by Bernie

I just received an e-mail with the following on a new Neil Young album due out soon:

The battle of one-upmanship begins. The heavyweight vinyl champion is...

[/quote]

Cinnamon Girl would sound goood on any weight of vinyl to these ol' ears. What a great record!!