*Clarity" vinyl LPs and a wall of noise

[mep]

So UPS rolls up to my door last night and drops off a good sized carton from Acoustic Sounds. The box contains the 4 LP boxed set of Armstrong & Ellington “Recording Together for the First Time.” Each LP is only cut on one side and each are cut at 45 RPM on 200 gram *Clarity* vinyl. I’m excited to hear it and my expectation bias that’s sitting on my shoulder and whispering in my ear says it is really going to sound good.

From the second you drop the needle into the groove and start turning up the volume control, a wall of noise comes washing over the room. The music itself sounds great, but the damn noise is intolerable. I tried another LP from the box and it was the same deal. This is exactly the kind of nonsense that drove people away from LPs and into the silent arms of digital.

This box set is only the second time I have bought a record made on the clear *Clarity* vinyl. The first being Armstrong’s “St. James Infirmary.” I was surprised at the noise level on that LP too, but it wasn’t anywhere near the ocean roar I get off the 4 LP set. So now I’m wondering, did I just get some bad pressings or does the *Clarity* vinyl formulation suck?

My box set came with a paper wrapper around the box that tells the story of *Clarity* vinyl and why it is so superior to common vinyl formulations. It kind of reads like a bad English interpretation of another language. The first sentence says: “Clarity Vinyl represents the ultimate in vinyl formulations because it is comprised of over 90% percentage (sic) of the highest quality co-polymer available-a key component in vinyl pellets used for manufacturing vinyl records.” Oh yeah, what about the other 10% they are using? Would that be the ocean roar co-polymer?

Again I quote: “Further, Clarity Vinyl has no carbon black additive, common in vinyl formulas for LPs. By taking out the Carbon Black, Classic Records is able to dramatically reduce the “electrical distortions” and thus bring more “Clarity” to the playback process…” Well guess what, maybe they should put that Carbon Black back in there because something is damn sure wrong.

In order to assure myself that all is right with my LP rig because this type of nonsense will make you question if something is seriously wrong with your setup like maybe you snapped off your needle by accident, I took out one of my LPs I bought last week for $14.00. Ahh, nice and quiet background levels. Everything else I played after that sounded just wonderful.

Does anyone else have experience with Clarity vinyl? Do you find it to be nosier than regular vinyl formulations? I think the clear records look cool and Acoustic Sounds has engraved their name in the back side of the LP so you can read their logo on the way to your RCM and to your turntable. However, I’m just not amused with the noise levels I’m hearing.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Ouch! I'm so sorry to hear about this Mark! While I have no personal experience with any of the Clarity vinyl, this does sound like you may have received a bad pressing. Some of my friends who do own Clarity Vinyl titles have never uttered even a disparaging remark about their products. Has anyone left any feedback on the AC site about this release, and can you return it for a full credit or exchange?

 

[jazdoc]

I gave up on Classic Records pressings because of the noisy vinyl...

When you get a good one, they are terrific (i.e. "Time Out" by Brubeck and "Live At The Village Vanguard" by Coleman Hawkins). However, a number of noisy LPs frustrated me enough to stop buying and I consider myself pretty tolerant of noise.

 

[mep]

Very interesting Doc. Their Tea for the Tillerman was another big disappointment for me. My pressing had rumble in the first cut and it just didn't sound worth a damn which has been well documented here. The only people that seem to rave it about it were the reviewers who were given test pressings which aren't the same as what normal consumers can buy.

John-I haven't contacted AS about this. They previously offered to exchange my Tea for the Tillerman, but I just didn't bother after reading what everyone else said about it. I just filed the LP under my "sounds like crap and I should probably throw it away" catagory shelf.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I gave up on Classic Records pressings because of the noisy vinyl...

When you get a good one, they are terrific (i.e. "Time Out" by Brubeck and "Live At The Village Vanguard" by Coleman Hawkins). However, a number of noisy LPs frustrated me enough to stop buying and I consider myself pretty tolerant of noise.

I'm almost with you on the Classic records. My 200g Tubular Bells wasn't 100% at first, but it has deteriorated to the point whereby it's become unlistenable to me. Most frustrating as I don't have the funds to automatically update something .

 

[jazdoc]

I do hope Mike Lavigne 'chimes in' (sorry for the Tubular Bells pun -- couldn't resist). Nobody other than Chad Kassem has more Clarity vinyl...

 

[flez007]

I do, some exhibit more noise than others (particullary Claudia Gomez LP).

 

[garylkoh]

The two Clarity vinyl albums I have were disappointingly noisy after all the marketing hype. When I read about how great "St. James Infirmary" was on WBF, I bought that, and was disappointed too.

On the other hand, I bought myself the Lost Highway 20th Anniversary box-set and I'm loving it. Very quiet surfaces on clear vinyl (like glass-clear!!).

 

[ack]

Oops don't tell me that mep - I just ordered that LP last night... ouch, it's going to have to go back

 

[MylesBAstor]

The two Clarity vinyl albums I have were disappointingly noisy after all the marketing hype. When I read about how great "St. James Infirmary" was on WBF, I bought that, and was disappointed too.

On the other hand, I bought myself the Lost Highway 20th Anniversary box-set and I'm loving it. Very quiet surfaces on clear vinyl (like glass-clear!!).

Mine's fine

 

[garylkoh]

Mine's fine

I know. I heard it at Mike's and then you recommended it too, so I bought one.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I know. I heard it at Mike's and then you recommended it too, so I bought one.

But I don't doubt you! CR's Q/C left a lot to be desired. For instance, 99.9999% of the LPs that can't be clamped are from CR. Seven of ten that I bought one time were warped--and if it weren't for the VPI clamp, would be unplayable on most tts and of course there was the issue of surface noise but nothing like Mark seems to experiencing. I didn't buy a lot of Clarity vinyl but will go back and recheck them for surface noise.

 

[mep]

But I don't doubt you! CR's Q/C left a lot to be desired. For instance, 99.9999% of the LPs that can't be clamped are from CR. Seven of ten that I bought one time were warped--and if it weren't for the VPI clamp, would be unplayable on most tts and of course there was the issue of surface noise but nothing like Mark seems to experiencing. I didn't buy a lot of Clarity vinyl but will go back and recheck them for surface noise.

Me thinks that if you have very many Clarity Vinyl LPs that you would know if they are noisy or not. It's hard to forget how bad they are.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Gary - How is your copy of Tubular Bells? My copy has become pretty much useless.

In fairness, my other Classic titles are fine, so I'm not dumping on them.

 

[garylkoh]

Just to be clear about what I said, the Clarity vinyl I have are "disappointingly noisy after all the marketing hype". I was expecting pristine surfaces. They are noisy, but listenable, and not like the "wall of noise" that you got. Other Classic Records re-issues I have were excellent. It's a pity about their quality control.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Me thinks that if you have very many Clarity Vinyl LPs that you would know if they are noisy or not. It's hard to forget how bad they are.

Honestly, it's been a long time since heard them and truthfully bought them at CES a couple of years ago and put them on she shelves. Out of the four box sets, really only listened to the Holly Cole recording

 

[MylesBAstor]

Oh and I forgot to mention how many were cut WAY off center so that thought the cantilever would snap Those were returned!

 

[garylkoh]

Gary - How is your copy of Tubular Bells? My copy has become pretty much useless.

I don't like it. I've only played it a couple of times so I don't know if it will get noisier, but the LP included in the 2009 Mike Oldfield-issued box set is far, far better. The CR is lean and the bells sound smeared.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

So UPS rolls up to my door last night and drops off a good sized carton from Acoustic Sounds. The box contains the 4 LP boxed set of Armstrong & Ellington “Recording Together for the First Time.” Each LP is only cut on one side and each are cut at 45 RPM on 200 gram *Clarity* vinyl. I’m excited to hear it and my expectation bias that’s sitting on my shoulder and whispering in my ear says it is really going to sound good.

From the second you drop the needle into the groove and start turning up the volume control, a wall of noise comes washing over the room. The music itself sounds great, but the damn noise is intolerable. I tried another LP from the box and it was the same deal. This is exactly the kind of nonsense that drove people away from LPs and into the silent arms of digital.

This box set is only the second time I have bought a record made on the clear *Clarity* vinyl. The first being Armstrong’s “St. James Infirmary.” I was surprised at the noise level on that LP too, but it wasn’t anywhere near the ocean roar I get off the 4 LP set. So now I’m wondering, did I just get some bad pressings or does the *Clarity* vinyl formulation suck?

My box set came with a paper wrapper around the box that tells the story of *Clarity* vinyl and why it is so superior to common vinyl formulations. It kind of reads like a bad English interpretation of another language. The first sentence says: “Clarity Vinyl represents the ultimate in vinyl formulations because it is comprised of over 90% percentage (sic) of the highest quality co-polymer available-a key component in vinyl pellets used for manufacturing vinyl records.” Oh yeah, what about the other 10% they are using? Would that be the ocean roar co-polymer?

Again I quote: “Further, Clarity Vinyl has no carbon black additive, common in vinyl formulas for LPs. By taking out the Carbon Black, Classic Records is able to dramatically reduce the “electrical distortions” and thus bring more “Clarity” to the playback process…” Well guess what, maybe they should put that Carbon Black back in there because something is damn sure wrong.

In order to assure myself that all is right with my LP rig because this type of nonsense will make you question if something is seriously wrong with your setup like maybe you snapped off your needle by accident, I took out one of my LPs I bought last week for $14.00. Ahh, nice and quiet background levels. Everything else I played after that sounded just wonderful.

Does anyone else have experience with Clarity vinyl? Do you find it to be nosier than regular vinyl formulations? I think the clear records look cool and Acoustic Sounds has engraved their name in the back side of the LP so you can read their logo on the way to your RCM and to your turntable. However, I’m just not amused with the noise levels I’m hearing.

i have almost every box set of Clarity vinyl made; even the mono box set of the 'Somethin Else' in addition to the Stereo. i also have other pressings of every one of those titles. the Clarity, in my experience, is at least as quiet, and typically quieter than other pressings.

as far as a wall of sound; my viewpoint is that any 45 rpm vinyl is going to present a larger soundstage, and sometimes much larger, than the 33. it's should also resolve more ambient details. unlikely that this additional info is coming thru as noise, but it's a remote possibility.

i will do a sample of Clarity vinyl this weekend and take a fresh look at this question.

i do feel bad that my enthusiasm for these pressings might have caused you to make a purchase you are now unhappy with. sorry Mark.

 

[mep]

i do feel bad that my enthusiasm for these pressings might have caused you to make a purchase you are now unhappy with. sorry Mark.

Mike-Don't feel bad, I look at it as the luck of the draw. I just wanted to know if this is what you can expect from Clarity vinyl because my two experiences have both been bad.