Vinyl Me Please Essentials

Here is a sample of my right channel noise on side A of Wu Tang. It is present from the run in through the second song at least. Sorry not the greatest recording but I think the defect is clear enough.


I definitely lucked out, my static isnt as bad as that, but its there at higher volumes. Doesnt ride on top of the music thankfully, but its persistent through the first track. Spinning the rest of the record then swapping to the Simply 2000 edition for a quick A/B. Side B is good and clean, same with Side C. Working through Side D now.
 
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Alright so first impressions of the VMP pressing:

Static on the first track, clean all the way through after that though. the static was a steady rotational hum as I turned the volume up. Definitely not present on the 2000 Simply Vinyl Edition so that's BS coming from VMP. Music is fantastically clear though and decently loud and stable without needing to turn the volume too high. I have everything set flat on my rig so whatever is coming off the grooves is bouncy, clear and fun. No issues beyond the static in the first track.

Simply Vinyl was a lot quieter so you'd need to crank it a bit more and definitely not as punchy. I'll probably be flipping this at some point now that this VMP one is a clear winner. Unsure if I'll ask for a replacement as its only the first track and I can kinda move past it and not think about it too much. Dunno. Might spin it again this weekend and see how I feel about it. It's annoying, but livable. Maybe when I eventually get my ultrasonic cleaner that might help out.
 
Here is a sample of my right channel noise on side A of Wu Tang. It is present from the run in through the second song at least. Sorry not the greatest recording but I think the defect is clear enough.



Listened to mine, Bring the Rukus sounds clean, but I appear to have exactly the same issue as you on the first track of PE. I wonder if this is a coloured vinyl thing. I've put in a replacement request for the PE, see what they say, hopefully I'll get a replacement
 
Here is a sample of my right channel noise on side A of Wu Tang. It is present from the run in through the second song at least. Sorry not the greatest recording but I think the defect is clear enough.


Sounds similar to the TMV and Outkast issues. What is going on with VMP/GZ these days?

A really solid run of albums the last few months and they've managed to mess it up.
 
Sounds similar to the TMV and Outkast issues. What is going on with VMP/GZ these days?

A really solid run of albums the last few months and they've managed to mess it up.
Hopefully they will get such a backlash that they start considering using someone other than GZ (assuming they are the problem).
 
Hopefully they will get such a backlash that they start considering using someone other than GZ (assuming they are the problem).
The issue with switching from GZ is that:

A) their price probably can’t be beat per unit

and

B) I don’t know that any other plant can currently handle the volume that VMP pressed every month with the state of the industry
 
Sounds similar to the TMV and Outkast issues. What is going on with VMP/GZ these days?

A really solid run of albums the last few months and they've managed to mess it up.

I think a lot it is that GZ were always quantity over quality and with the extra demands and backlogues caused by covid it’s probably exacerbated the inherent issues with that approach.
 
It honestly surprises me that they haven't thought about buying their own press.

it’s huge money up front as an investment and from what I gather the lead time on either having old presses refurbished or new ones built is even worse than the lead time in getting records pressed. It’s honestly not a step I’d take in their shoes.
 
it’s huge money up front as an investment and from what I gather the lead time on either having old presses refurbished or new ones built is even worse than the lead time in getting records pressed. It’s honestly not a step I’d take in their shoes.
€300,000 for a new one allegedly. That’s according to the label guy I know.
 
€300,000 for a new one allegedly. That’s according to the label guy I know.

Ouch! Thats an even bigger investment than I was thinking. You’re talking a several million up front investment then before the factory, staff and materials!
 
The issue with switching from GZ is that:

A) their price probably can’t be beat per unit

and

B) I don’t know that any other plant can currently handle the volume that VMP pressed every month with the state of the industry
Based on the state of the industry laid out here, I think you could be right.

Add in storms in Texas, and the cost of cardboard going up…

 
Based on the state of the industry laid out here, I think you could be right.

Add in storms in Texas, and the cost of cardboard going up…

While the industry has its difficulties, I don't get the idea that it's a bubble that is going to burst. The lack of supply increases demand and prevents the market from being flooded. The price increases will drive some out, but not enough to make supply equal or greater to demand. It likely will remain a niche product, but one with a long life unless something comes along that is better technologically but still hits the pluses of vinyl (physical, size, feel, etc.)
 
While the industry has its difficulties, I don't get the idea that it's a bubble that is going to burst. The lack of supply increases demand and prevents the market from being flooded. The price increases will drive some out, but not enough to make supply equal or greater to demand. It likely will remain a niche product, but one with a long life unless something comes along that is better technologically but still hits the pluses of vinyl (physical, size, feel, etc.)
I could see the second-hand/resale market start to burst, but I don't think the vinyl industry bubble overall will burst anytime soon either. Demand may eventually lessen especially if prices for retail keep going up astronomically. But even when VMP did their massive price hike without changing anything about the quality, they seem to have more subscribers than ever.
 
it’s huge money up front as an investment and from what I gather the lead time on either having old presses refurbished or new ones built is even worse than the lead time in getting records pressed. It’s honestly not a step I’d take in their shoes.
They cant find someone who can write solid liner notes , how in the world would they find someone who could operate a pressing plant ?
 
While the industry has its difficulties, I don't get the idea that it's a bubble that is going to burst. The lack of supply increases demand and prevents the market from being flooded. The price increases will drive some out, but not enough to make supply equal or greater to demand. It likely will remain a niche product, but one with a long life unless something comes along that is better technologically but still hits the pluses of vinyl (physical, size, feel, etc.)

I’d like to think there are some with plans in motion to spin up new pressing plants. Even with prices increasing, I don’t see demand dropping off for some time. Although maybe this changes when we see live concerts retune in force.

A couple of pressing plants have opened up in Australia in the last few years, but it may take time for quality to meet expectations
 
Bit of static on side A of my 36 chambers copy, but I haven’t given it a wet clean yet. Doesn’t sound as pronounced as Side D of ATLiens. I’ll clean it thoroughly this weekend and try again.
 
Just spun my Wu. Happy to say that I don't have the right channel noise issue. Album sounds pretty great imo

Just for note I did have 2 copies of ATLiens with the issue on Side D
 
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