Do Colored Vinyl Records Actually Sound Worse?

  Рет қаралды 5,597

The Joy of Vinyl Records

The Joy of Vinyl Records

Күн бұрын

Are colored vinyl records inferior to the traditional black vinyl? Some would say "YES!". I'm not so sure.
🎶 Have questions or experiences with tube amps? Drop them in the comments below-I’d love to hear your thoughts!
💌 Join our community! Sign up for my free weekly newsletter - ➡️ joyofvinyl.com...
Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more videos on vinyl records, audio gear, and accessories.
Shop at SkyLabs - Great People and a Great Store: shop.skylabsau...?sca_ref=7385189.51sYMDlJR64hy
*PSVane Horizon Tubes*: psvane.co/?ref...
----------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended Products
AudioQuest Anti-Static Brush: amzn.to/3UYjTue
Boundless Stylus Cleaner: amzn.to/3OL0eK8
Spin-Clean: amzn.to/3UGDEFj
Anti-Static Inner Sleeves: amzn.to/4aq94pi
Record Doctor X: amzn.to/3WFQZAk
Zerostat Anti-Static Gun: amzn.to/3WzwSUl
===========================
My mission here at the Joy of Vinyl is to bring together a community of vinyl record enthusiasts and to introduce a new generation to the "joy of vinyl".
Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something, I'll receive a small commission (Which will help keep the show running!). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
More about me and my portfolio at RickCoste.com
#AudioGear #MusicLovers #HifiAudio #VinylCommunity #VinylCollection #RecordCollection #vinyl #turntable #coloredvinyl #vinylrecords #recordcollecting #audiophile #musiclovers

Пікірлер: 142
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 2 сағат бұрын
Please tap LIKE and SUBSCRIBE Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter at joyofvinyl.com/join/
@JimsRockShots
@JimsRockShots Күн бұрын
I absolutely love all the new variants of records and will buy non-black vinyl every chance I get.
@talibanParade
@talibanParade Күн бұрын
What do you think about gray?
@JimsRockShots
@JimsRockShots 22 сағат бұрын
@talibanParade i think it's cool. I prefer the bright colors, the clear or the splatter, but gray, is all right.
@rogercarpenter862
@rogercarpenter862 Күн бұрын
The new Red vinyl for Samantha Fish’s first album Runaway sounds great. Nice quiet and flat record. Keep up the great work on your videos and newsletter.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords Күн бұрын
Just listened to that this week - showed up in the mail last Tuesday. Great record - been waiting for it to hit vinyl for years!
@gregtapevideo1464
@gregtapevideo1464 23 сағат бұрын
Often times it's the mastering process that will make or break a pressing.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Completely agree with you, Greg.
@yorkie984
@yorkie984 12 сағат бұрын
In my experience, clear or transparent coloured records have a lower noise floor than standard black. Opaque coloured are mostly the same as black. Picture discs are known to sound awful but what does stand out for me are metallic (silver, gold etc..) are very noisy and sometimes varied colour records such as swirl, can be noisy at the points where one colour or compound meets another.
@jaxnider
@jaxnider 6 сағат бұрын
Agree 100% on all points. Just a trivial correction; Elvis’ Moody Blue was released before he died on blue vinyl but they started pressing it in black about 6 weeks after release, still before he died. But when he did pass & his record sales went through the roof, RCA decided to go back to pressing it on blue vinyl (I guess in honor of his last hit record in his lifetime?). I was managing a record store at the time & was in the middle of all that Elvismania. Don’t remember if or when they went back to black vinyl as I changed jobs a few months later. Just thought you’d like to know some color vinyl trivia, keep up the great work!
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 5 сағат бұрын
Hey Jack! Thank you for the correction - it's great to have a bit of history tied to it as well. Much appreciated!
@scottbaylor6215
@scottbaylor6215 Күн бұрын
Good information here. I've never been able to hear any major issues with the color or splattered vinyl. That said, I prefer the old-fashioned black ones when I can get them. Picture discs are great to look at, but yeah, they're very noisy.
@s74gx8
@s74gx8 5 сағат бұрын
with the exception of the 50th DSOTM UV printed clear vinyl picture disc - that actually sounds pretty good, of course I know that is not the type of PD you are noting, but seems they have come up with a new, smarter way to display imaging and keep the sound quality
@jon-paulfilkins7820
@jon-paulfilkins7820 11 сағат бұрын
Back in the 80's there was talk that coloured and picture disc vinyl's did not sound as good as they were the wrong hardness for the normal needles. If is sounded 'not good' consider a different tip (if you are using a sapphire tip, try diamond or some other). Mind you unless you bought early, you were likely to get a pressing from a worn die and cheap vinyl. Seriously there were albums and singles that if I held them to a light I could see the light through them. That is pretty much one of the reasons we moved to CDs, that and the cost of playback equipment to get a good sound was more affordable by a factor of about 5
@EMSHWILLER86
@EMSHWILLER86 7 сағат бұрын
I've got a 1978 UK pressing of Let it Be on white vinyl, and it's one of the best sounding records in my collection...
@shaunhourston-wells458
@shaunhourston-wells458 9 сағат бұрын
Hi Rick. I must admit, I'd always thought coloured LPs produced more surface noise, although I couldn't tell you where I read / heard that! Anyway, your explanation makes complete sense, so thanks for assuaging the negative vibes I get when I realise I've bought a coloured LP! Cheers, Rick.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 9 сағат бұрын
Cheers! 🍻
@thomasdurkin8464
@thomasdurkin8464 8 сағат бұрын
Very good informational video. The only colored vinyl compound that is verifiably noisier than other colored vinyl is when an additive is introduced to make the record glow in the dark. To do this, the luminescent part is materially different from the usual color additives that surface noise is much more likely. But that “color” of vinyl should be the only problematic one.
@tturner12341
@tturner12341 Сағат бұрын
I still play my red vinyl version of The Brothers Johnsons Strawberry Letter 23 from 1977 I believe. And, it sounds great. I remember it even smelled like strawberries. 🍓. That said I still prefer standard black vinyl. I can see the dust better and cue up a song better. As far as sound goes. I really can’t tell much difference.
@JWD1992
@JWD1992 19 сағат бұрын
I got a copy of Moody Blue as an eight-year-old (still have it, of course), and it blew my mind at the time. If I recall correctly, the black one is (or at least was) more valuable because they switched to black right before he died, then switched back to blue because black now seemed morbid. That might just be an urban legend, though. Time to look it up. To Discogs! On the topic of picture discs, I think another reason they are always noisy is because they often came in those transparent PVC sleeves. We know now what damage those did! And the red J Geils Bloodshot will always be cool. I don't care if it's not "valuable."
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Growing up I always felt that 'Bloodshot' had to be valuable because it was so cool and I'd never seen anything like it. I loved looking at it. Of course - I was wrong and it wasn't unique at all, but the memories always come back when I hold it.
@packman03
@packman03 18 сағат бұрын
Agree with your perspective: if you enjoy it, that’s all the matters. My experience is that colored vinyl is very often covered in a gunk often said to be a releasing agent which creates a lot of surface noise and can only be removed by a proper RCM. For this reason, I avoid them when I can. I also suspect the color editions may be taken less seriously in production because SO MANY of these albums will NEVER see a turntable
@sixstring007
@sixstring007 6 сағат бұрын
I'll say this, I noticed a month ago that the clear Fleetwood Mac album I had just purchased is noiser than my regular black albums. I didn't know why, especially since I treat and handle them all with the same care. But, it suddenly made sense when I watched this video. If the black coloring is carbon black, that explains it. Carbon is slightly conductive, so it will build up less static. Of course, the substrate of a black record is still PVC, so it is not entirely impervious to static, but the clear PVC has nothing to help it out like the black records do. Good content.
@s74gx8
@s74gx8 5 сағат бұрын
yes except I do notice Black 180 gram records produce more static... 🤔
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 5 сағат бұрын
Thank you for the extra info on carbon 🎶
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 5 сағат бұрын
I actually see that for all 180g records regardless of color.
@keirhardman2769
@keirhardman2769 11 сағат бұрын
Thanks for this Rick relevant and interesting as usual. I have no axe to grind in the coloured/black debate and I have never heard a direct A/B comparison between the 2 so can't comment on whether one or the other sounds better. I have had the odd noisy pressing in both black and coloured albums. The only additional comment I would make is that I am marginally prejudiced against colours because the manufacturer is wasting time and money wondering what colour to choose when he should be focussing all his energy on sound quality an nothing else.... I do have a weakness for a nice clear pressing though. On a different but related cosmetic issue: I get extremely irritated when spending up to £40 ($50) on a lavishly prepared and illustrated gatefold sleeve double album only to find that they have saved about 10 pence by not giving me a polylined sleeve which will have some really valuable purpose ie protecting the precious vinyl! Cheap enough to add yourself, but that oversight really grinds my gears! Cheers and keep up the excellent content.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Thank you, Keir! I agree on the inner sleeves. You would think better sleeves would be a consideration when putting together a quality package.
@australian12extendedmixes53
@australian12extendedmixes53 22 сағат бұрын
Great video, have been buying records since the late 70's, quite a few coloured records in the 80's and still sound great today and to me no difference in sound as regular black records, as do the modern coloured records, picture discs yep, sound noisy but like you said it's more a novelty or display item.
@ghostlyerlkonig
@ghostlyerlkonig Күн бұрын
The colors are part of the art for vinyl for me. Now that so many pressings are colored now, i think its cool that it adds to the themes of an album :) its a bonus on top of lyric sheets, extra art, notes, and the cover itself. The God Of War Ragnarok set's third disk is one of my favorites i own because it calls back to events and colors in the game that are significant to the songs on the disk. It just makes it more fun!
@mat.b.
@mat.b. Күн бұрын
I've always gone for color & splatter versions for my collection to spice it up if given the choice and cost is equal, and never found them to be inferior at all. No issues. Many are quieter than black records I have, it really comes down to the manufacturer.
@danielgeiger7739
@danielgeiger7739 21 сағат бұрын
"Old wives tales with a vinyl twist" LOL! -- I like colored vinyl if it fits the rest of the visuals. But color just for the sake of color, then rather black.
@tomdemaline8869
@tomdemaline8869 Күн бұрын
Good show Rick. I have several colored vinyl albums mostly from Record Store Day purchases. Some are noisy some are as quiet as black. I really think it’s a quality issue from the pressing plant vinyl quality I mean. I am concerned about the George Harrison RSD release coming in April. It’s a Zoetrope 3 record picture disc set. And expensive
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I'm with you, Tom. When I heard picture disc I cringed.
@neilfisher7999
@neilfisher7999 Күн бұрын
Great info. I only have a couple of records on colored vinyl. I've not noticed any issue with either of them. If anything, the transparent green one I have has the least amount of surface noise of any of my collection.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I have fortunately had alot of luck with colored records. Not so much with the small amount of picture discs I've owned
@VinylRescue
@VinylRescue Күн бұрын
Back in 1983 I bought a UK import of Accept's Restless & Wild that is translucent red and has always sounded clean and great. I have one splatter disc that is noisy and I do not recommend those at all. I have several other clear, colored, and translucent colored LPs and they sound great. Anthony Gomes's recent reissues are either colored or clear and they sound great!
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 9 сағат бұрын
Udo is still out there rocking!
@gregcarson3444
@gregcarson3444 Күн бұрын
First Bloodshot, man that takes me back, I was a Junior in High School, when that album came out. Went to a friends house after school one day, he had just gotten it, when it pulled the record out of the sleeve, and it was that red, I was like wow, cool. Picture Disk, I have a couple of them, everyone was given as a gift, they all have sound bad from the first play. My favorite color vinyl, and I don’t know why but makes me laugh, is the Blue Note Label repressing, on Blue Vinyl, and they sound great. I have some Rhino repressing on Clear sound great. Sometimes, the splatter pressings, are noisier, I have heard caused by going over the different colors. But then again, I have had black vinyl that has been bad pressings. But with my acrylic plater lit up, the color vinyl does look cool in it. Thanks once again, great video, keep up the good work.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Thanks, Greg!
@Slavic_Fury
@Slavic_Fury 21 сағат бұрын
Only problem with coloured vinyl is that it’s hard to see dust or individual tracks, but they look cooler.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Absolutely right. That's always bugged me.
@arthurgordon6072
@arthurgordon6072 14 сағат бұрын
The problem I have with 'non black' records, particularly the 'clear' ones, is the difficulty getting the stylus on the 'run in' groove!
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Agreed!
@dhowting
@dhowting Күн бұрын
Can we just take a moment to APPRECIATE that you've taken such good care of a record(a) that have lasted 50+ years!!??!!?? Wow!!
@chrislj2890
@chrislj2890 Күн бұрын
Whether there is any sonic differences or not, I prefer traditional black simply because I can see any dust, specks or defects. For me beside that the worst are clear, as being able to see the grooves on both sides spinning makes me nauseous.
@Jeep_on_audio
@Jeep_on_audio Күн бұрын
The carbon black also reduces degradation caused by UV light. The ones to avoid though, picture discs indeed, and gold or silver metallic. The metallic particles cause considerable noise. Your video helps educating people against false information. Colored vinyl is perfectly fine. Some of the best pressings are those old japanese dark red vinyl. I also have some classical records, the expensive cream-gold label that sound fenominal. But some of the German versions from the 50-ies are full of potholes as they probably had other 'pressing matters' in the rebuilding of the economy. Also, Reggae records from Jamaica are often terrible. They kept recycling and recycling the vinyl. And in Europe the Spanish pressings had a bad rep. They were cheap and sounded terrible.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I heard the old Japanese dark red is a special formula that is lost (or no longer used). It's supposed to have been exceptionally quiet
@robertkerner4833
@robertkerner4833 Күн бұрын
I don’t give it any thought. I order what I want to listen to and when it arrives “Oh look at this the record is pink!”
@JohnButler-r9u
@JohnButler-r9u Күн бұрын
Being from Boston, Bloodshot is one of my all time favorite albums. However, I just picked up that red version a few weeks ago. Sounds just as good as my OG copy I’ve had for decades. In the 80s, I used to avoid colored vinyl when possible, but vinyl in general back then wasn’t great, to be honest. Nowadays, I have many colored vinyl discs that sound great. If they don’t sound great now, I think it’s probably due to poor QC at the plant. I even picked up a Joe Strummer RSD release of Junco Partner that sounds very good. Thanks for the vids!
@JohnButler-r9u
@JohnButler-r9u Күн бұрын
The Strummer disc is a pic disc.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Cheers, John! 🍺
@QoraxAudio
@QoraxAudio 2 сағат бұрын
Solid color records are just as good as black records, but patterns, like splatters aren't. Splatter records contain various types of color pigments resulting in various melting points, that's why at least one of those colors will be pressed slightly too hot or too cold. Sometimes the differences are minimal if melting points of those pigments are close to each other, sometimes it's more apparent, but it's always an issue. However, I would worry more about the quality control issues these days...
@abesouth3805
@abesouth3805 14 сағат бұрын
I have a double LP that is advertized as clear vinyl. Actually, they are transparent beige. There are numerous flaws in both records within the records. They don't affect the playing, that is why I know the blemishes are within the records. Cleaning doesn't remove them. QC should have picked it up at inspection, yet they did not. The inclusions are easy to see and stick out like a sore thumb. I purchased them online, and they arrived sealed in clear plastic wrap, so the vendor wouldn't have known about it. When I sent photos to the vendor, he gave me a voucher for the full amount and allowed me to keep the LPs.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
I will say that QC in some plants leaves alot to be desired.
@williamcampbell3868
@williamcampbell3868 3 сағат бұрын
This is from the Black Man O.G. and music loving audiophile. Greetings music lovers! I have a red copy of Freddie Hubbard's classic Red Clay lp. The color makes no difference! It is the quality of the vinyl, recording mastering, equipment and engineering.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 2 сағат бұрын
Cheers to that, William! 🍺
@ccapri9357
@ccapri9357 2 сағат бұрын
Two of my best sounding records are colored, red and light blue. The worst sounding record of my entire collection is also colored, light blue with a texture or material that remind me that old talking dolls mini records...
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 2 сағат бұрын
I know exactly the texture you are talking about!
@bacarandii
@bacarandii Күн бұрын
Black vinyl wasn't always the standard, either. Early LPs often came in kind of a burgundy red semi-translucent vinyl and they sounded at least as good as the black vinyl of the time. I saw another KZbin channel that took a closer look at some "black" vinyl pressings from the last 40 years or so that actually aren't opaque black at all, but deep purple or blue or red -- and you can see through them if you put a bright light behind them. Some of those vinyl formulations are said to be quieter. Old "picture discs" (a piece of paper or cardboard pressed between two slabs of clear plastic) often sounded terrible in the '60s-'80s because the actual materials were less than optimum. They were sold for their looks, not their sound. Some colored discs that were sold as a gimmick were noisy and distorted because the vinyl recipe included substandard dyes and other ingredients. The fundamental technology of 33 1/3 rpm microgroove records hasn't necessarily improved all that much over the last 60 years (I'd still rather listen to an original 1958 Blue Note stereo record, recorded with tube equipment in Rudy Van Gelder's parents' living room, than anything coming out of a solid-state digital studio today) -- but the different color pressings generally have!
@pierreduchesne0001
@pierreduchesne0001 22 сағат бұрын
The question of colored vinyl records is interesting. If I have no choice, I will go with that. I can think of the avant-garde pianist Naoko Sakata on the Pomperipossa Records with her green/white marble edition vinyl: 300 copies, only colored vinyl. But if there is a substantial price difference between a colored vinyl and a black one, both available, I can go with the black ed. For me vinyl is "just" an audio format: if with the vinyl there is a high-quality download, black and colored available, I will go with the colored version because I will probably play more intensively the digital copy, typically from Bandcamp, and from time to time the vinyl, for the "vinyl experience". From my experience and from what I read, these days, colored versions sound as good as the black ones.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Cheers, Pierre! 🍺
@rosecohen6597
@rosecohen6597 22 сағат бұрын
I have a copy of dookie that's blue and it sounds better than some of my black records that they've sold me
@LNDN_73
@LNDN_73 10 сағат бұрын
Love all the color variants, except clear which just look odd to me.
@ChuckCelticCarNut
@ChuckCelticCarNut 22 сағат бұрын
Rick Thank you for another great video. Chuck
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Thank you for watching, Chuck!
@SuperSagedal
@SuperSagedal Күн бұрын
Very very good video 😁 as usual. You hit the nail on the head here. I completely agree with you, I have exactly the same experience myself. My colored vinyl records sound just as good as the black ones. I only have two vinyl records with pictures on them and they are not of the same quality...All the best from Kristiansand 😁
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Cheers Norway! I have a few picture discs and all sound awful except one.
@christian2123
@christian2123 17 сағат бұрын
Love this idea. Personally I've had more issues as a % records owned with coloured vinyl vs black vinyl. I don't have any splatter vinyl records but have always wondered about whether there is more noise on these types of pressings. Have you come across anything on these?
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
I do have some splatter records. I can't say I've heard any difference although some people claim to. It could be that I just got lucky with the pressings.
@ianz9916
@ianz9916 18 сағат бұрын
The 1978 red coloured Beatles 1962-1966 is terrible compared to the 1973 black issue but that is probably down to the cutting of the reissue because the blue 1967-1970 from 1978 sounds great. It did put me off buying coloured vinyl for quite a while back then.
@patbarr1351
@patbarr1351 Күн бұрын
Rick is correct-- color makes little or no difference. This was discussed in the 1980's in an L.A. Times article I recall. The question was asked whether clear (uncolored) PVC was as good as black. One "plus" mentioned was that clear vinyl was a nudge to record makers to use the purest plastic compounds available so the record would look nice.I remember we had a copy of the 45RPM single of Herb Alpert's "Shine" at the campus FM station that looked great. I bought a UK import of an album by Tangerine Dream (sticker: "It's a clear cut!") in the early '80's that I still have that has very visible imperfections. It sounds kind of noisy. I have several '70's import LPs by Gryphon (folky art rock) from Transatlantic Records that are on a beautiful translucent ruby red vinyl and those can go either way as far as noise goes-- some are dead quiet & others kind of noisy.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Thanks, Pat 🎶
@analogue33
@analogue33 46 минут бұрын
Was more important is the horrifying trend of "echo-vinyl" , vinyl made of recycled plastic trash! Kid's are actually demanding it, can you believe it??😮 That would be the only thing to stop me from buying new record's if this becomes commonplace!😮😢
@iansteventon4221
@iansteventon4221 4 сағат бұрын
Sometimes the colour vinyl does sound bad , especially these clear 1s. I've had a few terrible splatters to ( guns n roses and the offspring recently) , still I always but the coloured edition, if it's rubbish I'll move it on for the black. The offspring is absolutely night and day better in black.
@ariefpoerniawan
@ariefpoerniawan Күн бұрын
For what information i got from other channel said that, the earlier color vinyl sound not as good as black one… but now days is almost similar as i have color and black i cannot hear th difference if i am not mistaken… but i agree if color vinyl is hard to see when scratch and i find it difficult to find the track when i want to skip the track.. but color vinyl is more apealing
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Good point, Arief! It definitely is more difficult to find the track with a colored record.
@PontiacS
@PontiacS 23 сағат бұрын
Yah From Bahston.
@BradyJohnson1
@BradyJohnson1 Күн бұрын
What I don't like about colored vinyls is that it's really hard to see the different tracks, especially with transparent records. I DJ (with only vinyl) occasionally, and it can be a big challenge. Otherwise, I think they sound just fine.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I can imagine - being a DJ you have a very unique and practical perspective on the subject. Thanks for weighing in, Brady!
@BillAdams-fb3jm
@BillAdams-fb3jm 8 сағат бұрын
The only color record that I've ever noticed a difference with is blaze orange. I've been a member of the press for twenty years and every record pressed on blaze orange vinyl that I've ever received for review has had problems. I don't know why that's true -- it might be a coincidence -- but that doesn't make it any less true.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 7 сағат бұрын
Interesting! I think I may have one in my collection. I'll check.
@markvandenberg4606
@markvandenberg4606 21 сағат бұрын
I honestly wonder if there isn’t a general issue with quality control of vinyl records, and since colored vinyl is ubiquitous these days it’s become an easy scapegoat. Or perhaps QC is actually worse with these colored records not because it’s harder to see scratches but because it has a “cool” factor for a (younger?) audience which cares less about audio quality than people like us. Either way, I do know I’ve been burned a few too many times by brand-new records (black as well as colored) which were so bad even after cleaning I should have returned them immediately. It really makes me question my lifestyle choices, especially knowing a pristine high-res digital album can often be had for $10-15 less. I’m not married to vinyl, and for the prices we’re paying we should be able to expect better products.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Completely agree, Mark!
@stanleycostello9610
@stanleycostello9610 Күн бұрын
I only have two modern albums that are colored vinyl. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" green vinyl. The soundtrack from "Psycho" blood red. (Bernard Herrmann, along with Nino Rota and John Williams, made film scores second to none.) Both of them sound excellent.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I love that the soundtrack to 'Psycho' is blood red, Stanley 😂
@stanleycostello9610
@stanleycostello9610 10 сағат бұрын
@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Did you know that the blood going down the drain in the bathtub was chocolate syrup?
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
@@stanleycostello9610 I did not!
@NickP333
@NickP333 Күн бұрын
Carbon is also a type of lubricant, so one’s stylus can supposedly move through the grooves more smoothly. Glow in the dark vinyl sounds terrible, but generally colored records sound just fine, IMO.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I've heard that about glow-in-the-dark records but never experienced it (or ever owned one)
@jro7075
@jro7075 Күн бұрын
I remember in the 70's in high school when I worked in a record store we use to have a DJ on fridaty nites playing music to attract customers he stated that colored records were horrible sounding and not to buy them in my day when 12 inch records that had a longer version of a hit song and that is what dj's used I used to buy them instead of the album to save since all I wanted was the song but I once bought a 12 inch and it was a colored blue record ,I played it it was very distorted sounding like it was not pressed right and again after a while Herp Alpert had a hit single called 'rise' so I wanted the 12 inch version but it only came in clear vinyl so I bought it it sounded ok but could hear a little distortion in it was disappointed several years latter when my twin sister got married and moved out she left me some of her records ans she to had a 12inch version of Herb Alpert 'sn rise in clear it to sounded not as clear ,so I alwaysed tried to avoid any colored record ,now comming into todays records I wanted to buy a album by a popular group Maroon 5 it was the latest from 2024 it came in a clear with splocthes of different colors a fellow worker got it for me I did not want to pay 50.00 for it thats too much for a album but he got it for me cause I helped him to train on a machine and he was having problems figuring it out so I was gratefull but was not excited on sound quality but I was surprised on how it sounded it was quiet no distortion at all like a very well pressed black vinyl I was amazed then several months later I bought a Fleetwwod Mac album that I did not have but did not say colored vinyl so when I opened it it was a white colored vinyl and played it it to sounded very quiet and really clear perhaps they improved on the formula I did noticed it was thicker than normal but since then I have bought several colored albums some do not say colored but so far have sounded really clear and quiet ,I know about picture discs and that they have a thin layer of vinyl but I found a album by Supertramp " breakfast in America " it was av very popular album during my seinor year in high school I found a copy on line for 34 dollars used !!!!black vinyl and saw the picture disc for half of the price I remember that album costing 7.99 at the time 1979 but at that time did not have the funds so I got angry and bought the pic disc when I played it it was the best deal I ever made it sounded very quiet no distortion at all !!!! was surprised !!!!! I took a big chance and I think I won this time but I do not go for pcture discs if I can avoid them like I said the colored records I have bought recently have been thicker than the ones from the 70's maybe thats the cure I do not know but great video and will keep watching JRo
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 9 сағат бұрын
Great advice there, JRo - thank you! 🎶
@theladubfovi909
@theladubfovi909 Күн бұрын
I only buy colored vinyl if there’s no black alternative available. Perhaps naively, I hope that the quality of sound is unaffected. BUT it’s harder to spot dust etc on colored/transparent vinyl … defo a minus point.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Agreed!
@fredrodnick2881
@fredrodnick2881 20 сағат бұрын
For years I've felt that you can't overcome the sound of the recording. In other words which studio it was recorded in and how it was mastered play the largest part in the sound of the record, regardless of what stereo you're listening to it on.Yes a more expensive stereo can give a little nicer tone, but it will still have the same basic sound for a given record .
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
It's all in how it was mastered first and foremost - completely agree. How it is pressed comes in a close second.
@s74gx8
@s74gx8 Күн бұрын
I tend to sway towards black because easier to see when cleaning - I have some colored vinyl that sounds great, however, the Newest release of David Gilmour's Luck & Strange on Translucent sea blue vinyl was disappointingly noisy-- Even the UHQR clarity vinyl of Steely Dan Gaucho was noisy in spots. Funny, I just recently bought an LP from a YT creator, Emily the Harpist, she collaborated with a couple prog. Metal guys to create a great album called Obverse. It was a small run on Black Vinyl cuz it sold out quick - point is: that was one of the absolute quietest and perfect pressings I have heard in a long time... go figure. $30 vs $150 🤦🏻‍♂
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Someone else commented about a similar experience with the Gilmour blue vinyl.
@Baz63
@Baz63 Күн бұрын
there is no doubt 'picture and splatter discs' are noisy. I acquired 2 and they are almost unplayable.
@robertmitchell6015
@robertmitchell6015 13 сағат бұрын
I’m not a fan of solid colours especially white, transparent colours sound better than solid colours, but I prefer Black
@DJStanSteel
@DJStanSteel 8 сағат бұрын
I love my marble or coloured vinyl. Picture discs not so much… there is no difference in the sound at all. I have loads and some I didn’t know it was coloured as still sealed. The newest album that came in 3 variants is OCTOBER LONDON. pure soul… I got the gold version… it looks like something out of Egypt!
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 7 сағат бұрын
Very cool!
@Mark-qz2nu
@Mark-qz2nu 10 сағат бұрын
My personal experience colored vinyl sounds better than the black. The black attracts more Dust and creates surface noise.
@Pluralofvinylisvinyls
@Pluralofvinylisvinyls Күн бұрын
That blue vinyl version of Moody Blue is worth like $10k at least
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Would love it if that was the case!
@jkwhtsll
@jkwhtsll 11 сағат бұрын
Carbon black is added to rubber to make tires as the carbon black “lubricates” the rubber reducing internal friction that causes friction and heating. The carbon black can be the most valuable material recovered from used tires. That lubrication may not be as meaningful with the newer vinyl formulation. Personally, I hate clicks and pops (thank you VPI) and find it difficult to see dust on colored vinyl.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
That's always been my only complaint - the difficulty in seeing the dust and all on a colored record.
@SolitaryWolf
@SolitaryWolf Күн бұрын
Awesome review. I'd love hear your option on picture discs. They are pretty but sound terrible.
@patbarr1351
@patbarr1351 Күн бұрын
I bought one of the 1st "modern" picture discs around 1980. It was the Beatles *Sgt Pepper* which, like all of 'em, had a warning that it may not sound as good as a conventional record. I recall that side 1 had a "swoosh" every revolution whereas side 2 sounded quiet. I'm sure that pic discs *could* sound as good as conventional records but would need better quality control that record companies don't want to bother with.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
My experience with picture discs hasn't been very good. Brody Dalle's 'Diploid Love' sounds great, but that's the exception.
@davesdream
@davesdream 21 сағат бұрын
That's why I hate colored records... you cannot tell if they are scratched
@Underp4ntz_Gaming_Channel
@Underp4ntz_Gaming_Channel Күн бұрын
play what you like the difference is nothing... plastic chemistry tech improved way way way more and is perfectly fine. people who hate colored vinyl are just "jelous" that they missed the pre-order 🤣 i got colored vinyl of all sorts and they are dead silent and sound amazing. just dont use your coffer vinyl player or other cheap players... oh and clean your stuff.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I second that - always clean!
@mat.b.
@mat.b. Күн бұрын
Not being able to see small blemishes as easily on colored is a good selling point for color over black tbh. Nothing more annoying than seeing something you pampered and did all the steps on still showing some random streak or smudge and drop from "mint" status.
@ganonkenobi
@ganonkenobi Күн бұрын
The colored records I've found almost guaranteed to have more surface noise are gold and silver records.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I've heard that as well - just haven't had a chance to actually try one.
@mikerobinson2026
@mikerobinson2026 Күн бұрын
The timing of this video must be a wrinkle in the space/time continuum. I just recently purchased David Gilmour's "Luck and Strange" LP, one being the blue "collector's edition" and the other in standard black vinyl. The black vinyl sounds like a typical Gilmour recording - very well engineered with little to noise. The blue one however, sounds like it was recorded on 220 grit sandpaper. The noise was not only discernible but in some places on the record it overpowered the music. Maybe I got the one bad one that's out there and the rest are fine, but it didn't help my "gotta be black vinyl" bias any for sure.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I've run into some bad pressings recently and replaced them. Fortunately it wasn't every run and the replacements sound fine. It's a very frustrating problem to run into
@sidesup8286
@sidesup8286 Күн бұрын
All the colored vinyl lps I have had experience with are fairly obscure. There was a rock record by a group called Trillion whose self titled album was released on blue vinyl. There was a 1950s label called Audiophile, whose original Jazz lps were released on red vinyl. I had the very rare King Arthur And His Men lp. The Franklin Mint Society, many decades ago, released their luxurious leather bound 2 lps in one box series The 100 Greatest Recordings Of All Time on red colored vinyll. The classical music set I am familiar with, and they sound like very good pressings. I also have some of the cassettes they came out with from the same series (the cassettes are extremely rare). Is the tape inside the cassettes a different color?...No, the same old boring brown. It would be interesting to look up why tape is brown colored. Speaking of colors, can anyone name the best selling long running series of mystery novels, where the detective was an avid Audiophile and would often mention the equipment he was listening to in his few idle moments in the stories? The equipment sometimes even played a part in his stories, like the time he discovered a fresh bullet hole in his Marantz model 18 receiver. The 21 novels over the decades were best sellers and each novel title contained a different color or shade of color in each novel's title
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 8 сағат бұрын
It's not the Harry Bosch series is it?
@sidesup8286
@sidesup8286 7 сағат бұрын
The long series of 21 novels with a fictional detective who was into stereo equipment, which started in 1964 was the Travis McGee novels written by John D. MacDonald. Each detective novel featuring the fictional detective Travis McGee, had a color in it's title. Titles like The Deep Blue Goodbye, The Dreadful Lemon Sky, The Empty Copper Sea, The Quick Red. Fox etc. While the novels were not really about stereo equipment, it was mixed in, and he mentioned what equipment the detective was listening to. The equipment changed over the years, as the detective upgraded. Very likely the author himself was an audiophile. The fictional detective was 29 years old when the first book came out; which is around the age that many of us got into higher end audio. I think the detective's first speaker mentioned was the AR 2ax, then the AR 3, then the AR 9. His early equipment was a tube Scott tuner and Marantz amps. Henry Winkler who played The Fonz, said his first putchase when the money started rolling in for his actor work was a pair of AR speakers.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 7 сағат бұрын
@@sidesup8286 This is very cool. What speakers did Potsie use? 😂
@sidesup8286
@sidesup8286 7 сағат бұрын
I don't know. Do you know? Ralph Malph used Marantz speakers, later in life. I'm not Jewish, but I know the word marantz is the yiddish word for "orange",like Ralph's hair. Henry Winkler mentioned in an interview that speakers were his first major purchase with his newly pouring in show biz money,. Interviewers often ask that question, about what was your first big purchase, and the celebrity's answer is usually a sports car or something; not a pair of speakers.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 5 сағат бұрын
@@sidesup8286 Makes me wonder what I'd buy if I suddenly came into money
@osliverpool
@osliverpool Күн бұрын
I have a couple of colored LPs from back in the old days, and they're both disappointing in sound quality - but a sample of just two isn't statistically meaningful, and I also have some poor-quality black LPs from the same days. Today I have quite a few modern colored LPs too, and they're just as good as black ones (and I like them, they're fun). I have one picture disk, a modern one, and the sound quality is poor - high noise floor and poor dynamic range.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
Out of the handful of picture discs I own - only one sounds good.
@jedi-mic
@jedi-mic 22 сағат бұрын
I've heard the opposite actually that a clear record has more clarity lower noise floor .don't think it makes any difference
@FleagleSangria
@FleagleSangria 20 сағат бұрын
Thanks for the video! My thoughts.. While I do think the “colored vinyl is always noisier” mantra is a bit hyerbolic, I also understand (and it makes sense) the more variables that are introduced into the equation the higher probability for negative issues. I went down a rabbit hole concerning this topic and this is some of the random information from professionals I gathered: (Kind of note style, so please excuse the mess) Matt Earley of Gotta Groove Records (a pressing plant based in Cleveland, Ohio). Black vinyl: "In the case of traditional black records, black carbon is often added, which also strengthens the PVC mix." Non-solid colored vinyl: “Random colored vinyl does tend to be noisy, and it’s difficult to predict. You have all the different colors, all mixing together, and each color is from a different formula of vinyl pellet, with different melting characteristics.” -Matt Earley If customers want to go more down the visual route, that’s fine, so long as they understand what the trade-offs are from an audiophile perspective. Again, it’s not because the vinyl itself is noisier, it’s due to the fact you have all these different colors and vinyl formulas mixing together" -Matt Earley Apparently PVC formulas are better now also. And the gap between colored vinyl and black as far as noise and defects is narrowing. Pressing plant quality control probably plays more into the vinyl problems than the color. From Discogs: "All vinyl records are made of PVC, which is naturally colorless. To turn this clear material into a solid color titanium dioxide and other additives are mixed in. To make the standard black vinyl color, black carbon is often added, which strengthens the PVC mix. To make any other color, dyes are used instead of black carbon. These dyes do not strengthen the vinyl in the same way as black carbon, but the difference is negligible unless mistakes are made in the production process." So coloring is done with dyes. Which do not strengthen the original PVC as black carbon does. A pressing plant owners take: This is from a guy that also presses records for a living and what he had to say concerning this topic on a youtube VC (Vinyl Community) channel. Goes by StuntRockConfusion if you want to look him up. Not an endorsement just giving him credit for the statement below: "I press records for a living, I run a pressing plant, so I've researched that extensively, and work on daily basis with PVC producers. Here is the reality : the PVC used to press records is a mixture of oil, water, salt, a metal stabilzator (led in the US, still, unfortunately), and color pigments. There are 5 main supplier/producers in the world for that specific product. If you don't add the color pigments, the color will be piss green rotten flesh. For clear vinyl, the process is to eliminate natural pigments. For all other colors, the process is to add pigments, or to eliminate original pigments and add new ones, same with black. So the greatest sounding colors will by definition always be black, clear, Blue, Red and Yellow. The more pigments you add, the higher the risk is for an uneven blend of the pigments in the extruder of the machine. It's more complicated thamn that, but that's the short version. That doesn't mean that other colors will sound worse, it's just a statistical slightly higher gamble. Metalic colors are more problematic, since metalic pigments don't really exist in this industry, it's a combination of many pigments that give the optival illusion of metalic color. Glow in the dark is the worst color, that one I still wouldn't trust. Picture discs are russian roulette. About prices : Most colors don't cost much more than black, the most ordered one (that's the only truth about black vinyl, even if there are two quality levels for black, only color with that, but that's another discussion), but they will cost more, because when I change colors in the machine, it takes time to purge the previous color, I also need to use clear PVC for the last remains of previous color. So I have to bill that to the label, unless he doesnt care to get a marbled effect on the "transitional" records. So here you go, the short version of the pro answer to those questions. Let me know if you want to know more." ------------------------------------------ On a personal note: My take… One type vinyl I stay away from is glow in the dark. I dont think anyone would argue that these are notoriously noisey for the most part. I sure wanted that glow in the dark Warren Zevon "Excitable Boy" with Werewolves Of London though. All in all I think we live in a good time for colored vinyl if thats what one likes. Its not really more noisey per se though it the percentage that it can be is higher due to the variables. Seems as long as one sticks primarily to the solid colors then less is introduced to possibly mess things up. I still like my swirly, marbled and splash vinyl though from time to time. Especially if the colors match the jackets in a pleasing way. So what do I gather from all of this? Simply put, it would seem the more mucking about in the process the greater the chance is that you will create more uneven and rougher surfaces and the noisier the vinyl could be. The more color variations and the fancier one gets the more likely the noise floor is going to go up. And that there are many more variables in the making of a vinyl record than I realized -------------------------------------------- Bonus: There is also a video that I find very interesting in that there are so many variables in the making of vinyl records. Or can be: Vinyl vs Alcohol - Cleaning your vinyl - New Research! Hopefully this was helpful and thanks again for your thoughts in the video!
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
This was extremely helpful and informative. Thanks, John! I hope more people see it.🎶
@nebbol
@nebbol 22 сағат бұрын
I assume you meant to say translucent instead of transparent
@Drekster2001
@Drekster2001 16 сағат бұрын
Yesterday I bought the latest Billy Eilish album on blue recycled vinyl. The sound quality SUCKS with pops and crackles all around. I ALSO bought a copy of Simple Minds' album REAL LIFE from 1991 which is 30+ years old and the sound was immaculate....
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
I've heard a similar thing from someone else about that Billie Eilish pressing.
@kentgoodall2516
@kentgoodall2516 16 сағат бұрын
The original.colour vinyl.are cool and some hard to get But today I'm so sick every release I want are coloured vinyl getting bit sick.of it I just want my vinyl.black but they try to.pull u in on RSD and prices are mad just cause it's coloured vinyl
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 11 сағат бұрын
Prices are outrageous in some cases,
@billglynn4883
@billglynn4883 Күн бұрын
The primary reason for black records (according to the record labels) is the carbon black helps drain static electricity thereby resulting in less noise during playback.
@WaterDR-tw8re
@WaterDR-tw8re 20 сағат бұрын
Black vinyl matters
@JM800
@JM800 Күн бұрын
Colored vinyl is virgin vinyl. Black may not be.
@stinkenstine
@stinkenstine Күн бұрын
Always wondered that. I hate new colored records. I don’t know why. Splattered and all that. Just not a fan of them…
@roncrate6424
@roncrate6424 19 сағат бұрын
All I could think about watching your video is wondering what that leather couch smells like when you get up. So handsome
@lovestheclassics69
@lovestheclassics69 Күн бұрын
I've only seemed to have issues with some spilt color vinyl, like my record store day Joan Jett The First Sessions which was on half black & half white, I can hear in between the songs it goes from one color to the other. The other one is that Molten Gold Vinyl, I have a ZZ Top Eliminator & I used to have Elvis' Golden Records on it and both sounded very noisy. My biggest issue is not being able to see scratches or defects, especially when buy used records where you can't return them. Oh and stay away from that "glow in the dark" vinyl, cool effect but sounds like garbage.
@TheJoyofVinylRecords
@TheJoyofVinylRecords 10 сағат бұрын
I've read many comments about gold and glow-in-the-dark being awful. Man - Joan is one of my favorite artists to pick up a guitar. I have everything she's ever put out.
人是不能做到吗?#火影忍者 #家人  #佐助
00:20
火影忍者一家
Рет қаралды 20 МЛН
My scorpion was taken away from me 😢
00:55
TyphoonFast 5
Рет қаралды 2,7 МЛН
黑天使被操控了#short #angel #clown
00:40
Super Beauty team
Рет қаралды 61 МЛН
Tube Amp MYTHS We Can All Stop Believing
11:40
The Joy of Vinyl Records
Рет қаралды 27 М.
George Harrison RSD 2025 Releases - Who Are they For and What's More, Who Cares?  A Rant !
16:15
5 Mistakes Killing Your Sound (That Cost $0 to Fix)
9:44
The Joy of Vinyl Records
Рет қаралды 18 М.
FALCON ACOUSTICS  F-50's Sound Seduction is REAL!
18:25
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac
Рет қаралды 10 М.
The Mysterious Lost Sega Saturn 64X - Gaming History Secrets
21:21
The TRUTH About Vinyl Records and Alcohol
9:35
The Joy of Vinyl Records
Рет қаралды 14 М.
DON’T DO THIS!  Our TOP 6 Audiophile Mistakes!
38:43
Jay's iyagi
Рет қаралды 4,3 М.
Vinyl sound quality myth destroyed
16:49
AP Mastering
Рет қаралды 131 М.
EXPERT Reveals Hidden Music In your Vinyl Records
56:09
The Joy of Vinyl Records
Рет қаралды 6 М.