Diagnosing Vinyl Problems
Everything we have written about getting the best sound from vinyl — from initial setup through diagnosing playback issues to understanding what was pressed into the groove.
Setup and Alignment
Getting the fundamentals right before anything else.
Turntable Setup — Precision Matters
Azimuth, VTA, VTF, SRA, anti-skate, and alignment geometry.
What Really Happens When You Change MC Cartridge Loading?
200Ω vs 500Ω with a Benz Micro Wood SM into a Conrad-Johnson ET6SE.
What System Do We Use to Play Our Recordings?
The full signal chain from VPI Scout to Rogue Atlas Magnum III.
Playback Problems
Diagnosing and fixing what you hear wrong.
Why Does My Record Sound Sibilant?
Recording, lacquer cut, damaged groove, alignment, stylus, or phono stage — systematic diagnosis.
Why Does Vinyl Sound Worse Near the End of a Side?
Separating format limitations from correctable setup problems.
Why Does Vinyl Crackle?
Diagnosing pops, clicks, and surface noise — from fixable dust to permanent groove damage.
Does 45 RPM Vinyl Sound Better Than 33 RPM?
How groove velocity affects inner-groove distortion and high-frequency resolution.
Pressing and Mastering
Understanding what was pressed into the groove before it reached you.
How to Read the Dead Wax
Decoding mastering engineer initials, pressing plant codes, and stamper information.
The Original Pressing Myth
Why the first pressing isn't always the best.
Mastering Matters More Than the Format
Why the mastering engineer may matter more than vinyl vs CD.
Vinyl Pressing Quality in 2026
Warps, noise, and which plants to trust or avoid.
Audio Quality and Measurement
Understanding what makes good sound good.
Why Dynamic Range Is the Most Important Audio Quality Metric
Compression, mastering, streaming, and vinyl examined through musical realism.
Transients and Damping
Transient response, damping factor, dynamics, distortion, phase, imaging, and noise floor.
Vinyl vs. CD: Can You Hear the Difference?
Hundreds of A/B comparisons through a tube signal chain.