I'm a 180 gram Vinyl junkie!

dlb2

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Since getting back into vinyl and having to start my collection from scratch, I find myself going straight to the 180 gram selections. I've bought some of the "regular" records with their thin vinyl, hills and valleys, and overall crummy performance, but I've been swayed by the perfectly flat and to my ears, better sounding thick discs. I don't even think twice about a record unless it says "180 gram." Is that wrong?!!!

Now getting back to something I mentioned above, I wouldn't think the thickness of a disc should make it sound different. Am I missing something? Surely the same record in different thicknesses only should sound the same. I'm not talking about 33 vs. 45, or MOFI vs. a regular pressing. It seems that some of the thinner discs that I've bought have more noise and tend to be harder to listen to than their thick cousins.

Are there others out there with this same disease?
 
Once you get a taste of 180/200 gram records, there is no going back. I'm sure Jeff can explain the science behind it, but my 180gram records sound better than the same "thin" record. My guess is that it has to do with reduced warping and that the weight of the record is more stable on the table.

I do know that the 180 gram records do NOT have deeper grooves. Apparently a record press can only produce grooves that are as deep as the cuts in the lacquer master. Maybe they are making lacquer masters with deeper grooves? Not sure. Jeff?
 
The quality put into the mastering, pressing, etc has more to do with the sound of a record than the weight of the record.....although it seems 180/200 gram is the new standard these day's and the manufactures are able to fetch top dollar.....more weight = more $$ ;)
 
Mike,
My best LPs are not 180.
Depends on the master like Jeff said.
Flamenco Fever is one my best LPs and is like 130gm
Is a direct to disc LP


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Add a +1. There are many good 180gr vinyl cuts but there are bad ones also. Same applies to the older ones. its in the mastering and pressing that counts. Some are awesome, some - its a damn shame. In truth, the vinyl is a gimmick with the only plus side is less likely to warp however; they do and have been delivered warped. In terms of sonic benefit - zero. Thicker vinyl does not equate to more sound.

I love my 180gr vinyl selections (the Beatles 13 albums set, MJ's Thriller, Pink Floyd, etc.) but only because they were mastered correctly
 
I also have a lot of the thinner pressings from years ago that are just spectacular to listen to !!
 
I understand that the thickness doesn't make for a better sound. What I like about the 180g records is that all that I've bought so far have been perfectly flat. A couple new reg. records I've bought have been warped so badly they make my stylus jump.


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If your table isn't designed to solidly couple the vinyl to the platter with a vacuum or an effective clamp, the LP can 'float' which will result in inferior sonics. 180g records will probably fair better than lighter or thinner discs in this situation. If the 'coupling' is effective, the weight doesn't matter. Try rapping the surface of the disc with your knuckle in several places and listen for the solid (coupled) or hollow (float) sound; this, IMHO tells the story.
 
Not a fan of 180 gram records personally. I've heard too many bad ones and just don't how they are any different from the regular weight records in sound. I have no coupling issues with my tables anyway. The recording, production and pressing is either good or bad no matter the weight. Just my personal opinion and experience. Just my personal opinion and experience. Your mileage will vary.
 
personally I hate 180gm vinyl. I have thousands of wonderful sounding lp's on standard 120gm. There is no extra information on 180gm vs 120gm. All it does is make getting VTA correct more difficult with lots of different lp weights and heights.

180gm vinyl actually is more susceptible to dishing as it takes at least 8 hours to cool the vinyl vs 3 hours for 120gm before packing is supposed to happen. Many 180gm vinyl that are dished have not gone through this fundamental qc step.

rant over :exciting:
 
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