Ongoing History Daily: Facts about vinyl everyone should know (part 1)

If you’re into vinyl, let me give you some extra knowledge. First of all, you’ve probably heard about 180-gram records, which tells you the amount of vinyl used in a record. The heavier the record, the better, right? Not necessarily.

While they resist warping better than standard 120- and 140-gram records and may allow for better tracking of the stylus within the grooves, sonic quality still comes down to the nature of the recording, the mastering process, and the care with which it was pressed. The weight of the record doesn’t automatically mean it sounds better. A 140-gram record made with more care will always sound better than one that weighs 180 grams but was sloppily made.

So what is the best weight for a vinyl record? There is no consensus and no impact on sound quality. More next time.