Bin dug noisy records. Does it diminish your enjoyment?

I don’t collect noisy LPs. 

I have a few. I don’t listen to them. 

Sometimes some LPs that I buy develop pops right away, even though they go straight back into their inner archival sleeve after playing. I’ve never understood why that is so.

When I first got back into vinyl I was doing a lot of thrift store picking. I paid $1 for the majority of my collection(that wasn't inherited.) I eventually built my own ultrasonic cleaner that is similar to the one in the above link. It cleans 3 at a time. I then rinse in distilled water, vacuum them and then I have a piece of lab equipment that removes static. The process is a pain. I have found that the Spin Clean actually does a fantastic job for records that aren't in bad shape. I start there now and if it needs more, I go to the ultrasonic. My digital front end sounds so good these days that I find myself listening to vinyl less and less.

certainly more fun than file or cd.

finding out ways to clean them
searching through a pile. of vinyl from bulk purchase and round a few gem try to bring it back to live

It's a hobby within a hobby 

Depends... 

If is a quiet solo piano piece of music, then I'll likely pass. There is nowhere for the noise to get buried and it can become too distracting.

This is usually where I get my "guilty pleasure" recordings. Sometimes I get very lucky, other times not so much. It's also where I will try something different.

If it's a record I'm really pining for, I will seek out a "proper" copy.

Learned early on with this latest return to vinyl (six years now) that an RCM is a must have. Started using home brew, a painting pad, microfibre cloth and a dish drying rack. Tried the Spin Clean to no avail and gave up on it. Best accessory I ever got was my Okki Nokki. Three wash cycles followed by three rinse cycles using L'Art du Son. Overkill I suspect, but at least I know they are as clean as I can get them with the tools I have.

If a record looks dirty, doesn't matter. I think of it as a protective coating :)  Light scratches don't really matter pending the profile of the stylus.

Going through the bins is a relaxing and meditative process provided you leave enough time for it :)

get an ultrasonic record cleaner.  I could not believe the improvement in the records I purchased used.  Even new records.

Almost like a whole new medium.

I washed about 20 LPs with a Spin Clean, got a lot of dirt etc. in the bottom of the cleaner. The old washed records sound very good now, (Tom Jones looks a little scratched up, have not tried that one yet).
So I will get them all washed, and find a replacement for Tom. Everything has been going into MoFi inner sleeves, and the Vinyl Styl outer sleeves, because sliding an LP out of a paper sleeve is painful. Livin' and Learnin' in my new hobby here.

Not anymore!  Been digging my Sweetvinyl Sugarcube SC-2 with surface noise masking upgrade.  I turn my $1 and $2 record show finds into near mint vinyl, then make a hi res digital file of them for my server.  Love it, but, of course, I clean my records first.  Using a cheep and cheerful KAB vacuum cleaner.  Great results, tons of listening pleasure. I probably won't live long enough to spin all the vinyl I have.

Not at all if it is good music but if you clean them well a lot of those noisy records can be utterly silent and in remarkable condition for their age.

I find that CDs take more costly maintenance than LPs especially if you factor in the replacement costs after you throw them away.

Yeah, I don’t tolerate surface noise. No need too as there’s plenty available that are quiet. Usually that is. Or just needs cleaned.

After I wash everything I will put a new stylus on the Nagaoka MP-110 for about $70. and I did buy a new Jim Croce to replace the old beat up one I got used. I do need to inspect them better at purchase. But still listening to an old album bought when it released and enjoyed through many playings, is kind of cool.

We clean them.

   Small bit dawn dish soap, peroxide. 
 Clean and vacuum w a powerful shopvac with the home made attachment piece with felt pads to protect the vinyl.

  Works a treat!!

  Does remove a lot of noise!!

love buying cheap records and cleaning them, gives me something to do. 

I don't play anything below a VG+. Surface noise is not my cup of tea. I've always cared for my albums since I was a kid. Dirty albums and high $$$ cartridges are a very poor match. It took me a long time to get to this level of equipment and I will not destroy it purposefully with dirty albums. And that is what you are doing to your inexpensive cartridge also. Anyone who thinks SN is a normal part or vinyl playback knows little about vinyl. Even with my inferior equipment I never had big issues because I always kept my hands off the grooves and put the records back in the sleeve after play.

ibmjunkman - I love my SAE 5000A too. I tend to only use it for vinyl that has a scratch as it does remove some high frequencies, eve when set at the optimal level. It's certainly better than the click, click, click on every revolution!

@surmuz it’s shellac, not vinyl, they are mono and probably played to death with steel needles in the 40s. Those are made before RIAA was invented. It’s different technology.
So you need completely different needle to play those 78rpm today, and you can’t compare them even to old microgroove (stereo 33rpm) high fidelity LPs from the 60s for example.

Life has surface noise

For five bucks or maybe ten, you should be getting an LP with a near flawless surface, assuming the particular example is not some collectible item. (Some very minor scuffing might or might not create audible problems, but why take a chance?) Don't buy crappy looking LPs.  That visible damage cannot be corrected by any level of washing or preservative. Which is why I never buy on-line.  Visible inspection and a high rejection rate will still not fully protect you from buying an LP that is worn out, once in a while.  When that happens, I bin them.

Probably it’s gramophone. Labels are off on those discs and no pockets or any other info on them. 

I’ve got bunch of records from my father and couple of them r pretty old late 40s-50... those two records are made on some much heavier vinyl also the flexibility of those discs is far from modern LPs. The vinyl looks more like bakelite, it chip off easily.  I tried to play those records ones but unfortunately I couldn’t even hold one truck so noisy clicking and popping it was.. washing and cleaning did not made  any difference... the records just unlistenable.

@surfmuz are you talking about 78rpm gramophone records you tried to play with a wrong needle on the wrong turntable on the wrong speed ??? 

You don't need to spend a fortune to get LP's clean that play quietly if you are willing to do it manually. I used to do a lousy job, just before playing, always too noisy.

Now I clean a batch of 10 while listening to other music until they are thoroughly dry.

https://www.amazon.com/Record-Cleaner-Cleaning-Brushes-Microfiber/dp/B07VQN5XML/ref=sr_1_20?crid=57S...

I use these baby scalp brushes, scrub aggressively

https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Scrubbie-Sterile-Cradle-Sponge/dp/B005EJ7YH4/ref=sxts_rp_s1_0?crid=3LKX...

you can see my cleaning setup in one of the photos of this LP listing of mine on eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133770301296

Plastic sheet; cover the paper label; my mix (more alcohol and a few drops of Finish-dishwasher rinse agent); scrub agressively; spin machine is only for rinse, distilled water only; drying rack.

Yes it does. I’ve got bunch of records from my father and couple of them r pretty old late 40s-50... those two records are made on some much heavier vinyl also the flexibility of those discs is far from modern LPs. The vinyl looks more like bakelite, it chip off easily.  I tried to play those records ones but unfortunately I couldn’t even hold one truck so noisy clicking and popping it was.. washing and cleaning did not made  any difference... the records just unlistenable. 

Rarely will I purchase used records these days.  It would have to be something special.  Worse than trying to listen through the pops, ticks, and surface noise, is me sitting there wondering what this LP is doing to my stylus!

I have a local shop that has a whole section of $1 records.  Most are apparently in pretty bad shape, but there are those that are dirty and have only superficial scratches.

If I don't already have the record and it looks like it might clean up OK, I'll take a chance on them.  I have a DIY record vaccuum that i use for cleaning records that does an excellent job of getting grit out of the grooves, and a second turntable to try them out on. 

I also sometimes buy them if the covers are nice and one of my albums has a damaged cover.

I usually get a fair amount of keepers, and those that aren't I just donate back to the record store.  They're really nice guys with reasonable prices, so I try to do what I can to support them.

That being said, I can tolerate some surface noise.  If I like the album that much I'll search out a better copy.

Ah, the joy of my SAE 5000 Impulse Noise Reduction unit. 😊

Does it bother me? A little but it is soon replaced with the memories and time in my life it takes me back to. Music or individual songs for me at times can be a great escape from current life back to a time when I did not have a care in the world. Hearing pops and cracks in records can have that same time machine effect, almost therapeutic.I have bought some used lp’s knowing they were in bad shape but was happy that the one or two songs I wanted were playable. Never pass a garage sale or resale shop with out looking. My holy grail search is for Pete Townsand secreat policeman's ball.

I own a lot of vinyl, both old and new.  Ultrasonic cleaning is a must have.  I also threw away all my cleaning brushes, clothes etc....   Once the LP has been cleaned, nothing touches the surface.  My own experience is the LP might collect a little dust, which I simply blow off, as opposed to using a record brush that will just push particles into the groves.  LPs properly stored will go a very long time before they need to be cleaned again.  Having said all that, a well manufactured CD, from a master tape, by a company like Telark, will sound a good as the best vinyl and stay that way.  Hard to justify vinyl when compared to a "good" CD. 

I’ll never understand why some pops and clicks or whatever would bother someone so much....to be honest, even my so called bin dug lp’s sound rather nice. It is the quality of the recording that matters most to me, despite a few imperfections of noise.
The record dr is used when needed, but I mostly clean manually with Vinyl Revival, a UK product. It works well on most records. For a touch up, I use my old standby discwasher d4, the original one with red fluid bottles. I have managed to amass quite a few unopened d4 kits via ebay over the years.
As Tom Port says, the quietest records are not always the best sounding....

Check the EAN Serial Number, there could be a LP worth a large amount of $$$$
I have had this as an experience and witnessed the uplift in Value and know of others who have seen the  benefit of taking the time to do a little research into the EAN as well.

If you really like these records just find better copies and pay more for them in Mint- condition. 

You are fortunate to be able to stumble on LP's you want to Buy, the type of LP's I find now from similar types of outlets are not really on my need to listen to list.
If you thoroughly enjoy all things Vinyl and your use of Vinyl consumes the bulk of your listening time allocations, for 'Sit in Front of the System' listening experiences.
A Cleaning Method will do wonders.
A Simple Method with not to much expense will be to carry out a Manual Method as advised on the Instructions in the attached Link.
I have been using this as a method.
There is additional discussion within a Thread about using these methods on a Thread in this Forum.
The Additional Step to Soak the LP in White 5% Acid Distilled Vinegar can really impact on surface noise, the Lead In Grooves and Between Tracks on nearly 40 Year Owned LP's had a remarkable effect on surface noise.
A friend who buys mainly MFSL Vinyl and Ultra Sonic Cleans his Album Collection, heard one of my Longterm owned Manual Cleaned LP's on Friday and was extermely impressed with the perception of the Cleanliness of the Vinyl during the Presentation. 

Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records - The Vinyl Press  

  

at the sink with fresh sponge and mild dishwashing solution. used to finish off with L.A.S.T. did this with the basket cases and it was enough to make them playable again, esp. after the L.A.S.T. any drek that makes it past that stage gets filtered out by CEDAR.

Search for record cleaning service on eBay.
There's a guy there who uses high end cleaning equipment to clean your records.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/163620669060
Not a long term solution,  obviously..but you could send a few and hear how the process improves, or not, the sound of a few of your disks to help you decide what it's worth to you.

Fiesta75, thanks for the link. Amazon used to have that machine at a similar price, but they sold out. Now I only see it for $325 or more, most places.

ultrasonic cleaning frequently resolves the problem

Assuming records have been cleaned, the better the system, the greater the separation between the vinyl noise floor and the music. For the most part, any noise on the record disappears once the music starts. 

Plus 1 Russ69.

Switched to CDs from the 90s. LPS are just too high maintenance. I realize that some folks like the routine, but I just want to get straight to the music. Ripped my CD collection to FLAC which I stream via Roon and its audio nirvana! 

Even new records may have some dust and mold release agent depending on the pressing plant.  The static cling of the vinyl begins the moment the record is removed from the stamper.

Generally, I've been first dunking the records in the Spin Clean and using a few drops (I'll leave it to the reader to find just how many drops to use) of Tergikleen in the bath water.  After 10 spins each way in the Spin Clean, the record then gets two trips through the Degritter, first a long clean with X-100 in the water (again, you're on your own to figure how much to add to the distilled water), then a short clean rinse with plain distilled water.

After much fiddling and listening, I've found this long and drawn out method to yield an enjoyable listen from bargain records up to the overpriced 180g records.  Thicker, heavier vinyl records=more static cling.  That was one of the reasons RCA developed the ridiculously thin "Dynaflex" records.  It partially tamed the static cling problem.  But the records warped much easier.  Trade one evil for another.

And as a side benefit, after going through the 3 step vinyl initiation, the "static cling" seems to stay away for nearly a month.  This in a hot, dry climate which wreaks havoc on vinyl records for static buildup.

For too long I brought home "pristine" looking used LPs only to find them nearly unplayable.  You can't fix visible scratches but you can dramatically improve the performance of used and new LPs with a good cleaning machine.

I tried various cleaning solutions, technics and brushes but nothing gave me the results I was seeking until I bought the Pro-Ject VC-S2.  Various machines can get pricey but I feel the Pro-Ject was worth every penny as it greatly enhanced the listening experience of my entire LP collection.

Even new sound better after a quick cleaning; pops and clicks are almost non existent now.  Do some research, make sure you get vacuum capability and follow the cleaning solution directions carefully, and your problem is solved.

Some might say for the price of a good cleaner you can just get new LPs or two LPs from BetterRecords.com, but some items are no longer available and some new are not pressed very cleanly. I consider it one my most essential audio investments.

I have actually had more scratches and "smears" on new LPs only 2 of the old records had scratches. Another reason I am not overly thrilled with Album buying from Amazon. But yes I need to fire up the Spin Disk, and clean them all.

Need more discerning pre purchase examination.  Gundge is OK as long as you own a cleaning machine. Scratches are not.

Don't blame only the lp's. But why buy a questionable lp even at 5$? 

I take much pride in deep clean used records with my Gem Dandy. I can almost always remove 90% of the crackles and pops and improve the record grade for the better. 

Noisy I throw it out ASAP!!

Well, first, I would not pay $5.00 for a scratched-up and dirty LP. Do I have them? Yes, but not dirty, as I clean them. Most of the worst offenders are from my original collection from years ago (back when LP’s were the only thing we had, and weren’t always careful with them), but also have also purchased many many period LP’s (a lot of classical) which have some surface noise, albeit clean.


After getting back into vinyl, no, it does not bother me too much (as long as it isn’t too extreme), as most all of them sound better than my hundreds of CD’s I began buying in the 80’s and well into the 2000’s. I now have the same albums on vinyl that I had on CD’s, and those ‘duplicate’ CD’s never really get played any more.

Try cleaning them 1st makes a BIG difference. I used a Kirmuss ultrasonic which worked well but a real PITA to use so now use a Keith Monks Prodigy and very happy.

Yes it does and that is why I switched to CDs decades ago. A silent background and a continuous hour of play was important to me.