Frequently Asked Questions

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When it comes to vinyl records, dust is unavoidable. A few basic vinyl maintenance principles are usually sufficient to keep things under control; however, if left unchecked, dust can cause serious damage to both your stylus and records. Not only does it cause pops and crackles, but it can also cause needle jumping and stylus and record wear.  Dust can accumulate inside the groove over time and become sticky and stubborn. While it makes sense to prevent dust from forming in the first place by storing records properly, dust and dirt will eventually accumulate despite your best efforts. 

All records require cleaning from time to time, and there are numerous documented cleaning methods, some perfectly logical, others completely absurd.

Avoid using household cleaning products (like Windex or other cleaning brands). To understand why Windex is such a bad idea for vinyl, consider the ingredients, which are far from natural. It's best to stick to ingredients that have been purposefully combined by people who know what they're doing.

Record weights are made to fit over the spindle and hold the record in place. Weights, according to audiophiles, improve tracking by ensuring stability. Vinyl record weights are debatable in the vinyl community. They do, in our experience, provide a marginal improvement in playback performance as well as a minor boost in sound quality (particularly in the bass response, which sounds tighter). It works by tightening the clamp on the record to the platter of your turntable, which improves tracking and reduces vibrations. The additional mass may also aid in the reduction of wow and flutter. Furthermore, the weight applied can aid in the flattening of mildly warped records.

Minor scratching on the surface of a record can occur when it is placed or removed from its paper sleeve and has no bearing on playability. Please contact customer care if there are any additional substantial scratches on a brand new record that are affecting playability. Light scratches on the record's surface that you can see but not feel can occur over time, but they usually don't impede the record's playback. When handling a record, avoid touching the playing surface with your hands, do not place it on anything other than the turntable, and return it to its inner sleeve and jacket when completed. Another option is to store albums without their jackets or piled.

What can I do? If your vinyl record skips in one spot, it's possible that dust or debris has been lodged in the groove. Try clearing your album first. If the issue persists, or if it occurs on a brand new record, it could be a manufacturing flaw, in which case please contact customer care. 

Always keep your records vertically stored in a cold, dry location. You run the danger of warping the vinyl by stacking them horizontally on top of one another. 

This can happen if your tonearm is not properly weighted, and you may need to adjust the anti-skating mechanism on your turntable, which is commonly a weighted knob or spring mechanism at the back end of the tonearm. If this happens and your turntable lacks an anti-skating function, try sticking a cent to the top of your stylus.