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Picture Discs

This will be just a "getting the frustration out" ramble, but i bought my first picture disc at Record Store Day Saturday.  One on my favorite childhood albums, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, "Pictures At An Exhibition".

The surface noise on this "thing" basically makes it unlistenable. Though it's a live album, it's relatively quiet in many places and just dreadful to listen to. It sounded like there was a big sticker covering the grooves.

Is this normal for picture discs? I've seen a lot of them on the shelves over the years, but never tempted to buy one until this weekend. I didn't clean it before play but i can't imagine that would make any difference.

Oh well....guess I now own a novelty item.

nicholsr

Showing 2 responses by baylinor

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,221 posts
 

Picture discs have always been known to be of poorer quality. I have only two of them out of over 2k albums and they are both noisy. It's just for the novelty of it and would be better displayed on your wall than played on your rig.

Another type of vinyl to stay away from, are transparent ones as they are much less resistant to wear. In the end, black vinyl still rules.

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,221 posts
 

@larsman 

Thanks for the clarification.

That would be correct, vinyl is originally clear, however carbon black is added to it to get the color black and that material adds structural strength to the vinyl. Hence black is best imo.

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