Faults to Watch Out For When Buying New Vinyl

New vinyl isn't cheap these days, so it's a bit galling when you get a record home, drop the needle, and hear something that shouldn't be there. Pressing quality has been a genuine talking point in the hobby for years now, especially with plants working flat out to keep up with demand. Most pressings are fine but faults do slip through, and knowing what to look for (and listen for) can save you a lot of frustration.

Here's a rundown of the common issues, how to spot them, and what's worth worrying about versus what you can probably live with. 

Warping

This is the one everyone knows about. A warped record won't sit flat, and depending on severity it can cause your stylus to bounce, your tonearm to wobble visibly, or in bad cases actual audible pitch wavering as the record rises and falls under the needle.

A little bit of gentle waviness right at the edge is common and usually harmless. What you want to check for is anything that causes the tonearm to noticeably rise and fall as the record spins, or a dish shape where the whole record curves like a bowl. Hold the record up at eye level and spin it slowly, you'll see any serious warp straight away.

Mild warps can sometimes be flattened with a record flattening service or even careful use of weighted glass and gentle heat, but severe warps are usually a return or exchange situation.

Off Centre Pressing

If the spindle hole isn't dead centre in relation to the grooves, you'll hear a regular pitch wobble as the record plays, almost like a very slow vibrato. It's most noticeable on sustained notes, piano and vocals tend to expose it quickly.

This one is hard to spot just by looking, you'll usually catch it by ear. If a track sounds like it's very slightly seasick, that's your clue. Some people are more sensitive to this than others, so it's worth listening on a decent system before deciding whether it bothers you enough to send back.

Non-Fill

Non-fill happens when the vinyl doesn't completely fill the groove during pressing, leaving tiny gaps. Audibly this shows up as random little clicks, pops, or a slight crackling in specific spots, often in quieter passages. Visually, if you look closely under good light, you might spot small dull patches or pinholes in the grooves rather than the smooth reflective surface you'd expect.

Light non-fill is pretty common and often barely noticeable. Heavy non-fill with lots of clicks in the same spot every play is a legitimate fault.

Surface Noise and Pops That Don't Belong

New vinyl should be reasonably quiet, not silent like a CD, but you shouldn't be hearing constant crackle, loud pops, or a persistent hiss that sounds like static. A little bit of surface noise on the lead-in groove before the music starts is totally normal.

If you're hearing distinct pops or clicks in the same location every single play, that's usually a manufacturing defect rather than dust or debris. Wash the record first (details on how in a second) to rule out contamination from pressing or packaging, and if the noise persists after a proper clean, that's a fault. Read our article on how to correctly wash vinyl records here.

Seam Splits or Lamination Issues

Sometimes you'll see a fine line or ridge running through the vinyl, often near the edge, where two layers haven't bonded properly during pressing. This is called a lamination fault or seam split. It can sometimes be purely cosmetic, but it can also cause audible ticking as the stylus crosses it repeatedly.

Run your finger gently across the surface, if you can feel a ridge rather than just see a faint line, it's worth keeping an eye on during playback.

Scuffs, Scratches, and Handling Marks

These usually happen after pressing, during packing, shipping, or handling at the shop. Hold the record at an angle under a bright light and look across the surface rather than straight into it, this makes scratches and scuffs jump out far more clearly than looking head on.

Light hairline marks that don't dig into the groove are usually cosmetic and won't affect playback. Deeper scratches that you can feel with a fingernail will almost always cause audible clicks or skips.

Dish Warp and Edge Warp

Slightly different from a full warp, this is where just the outer edge of the record isn't flat, kind of like the edge of a vinyl frisbee. It's extremely common, especially on heavier weight pressings, and in most cases it won't affect playback at all since the tonearm has already settled by the time it reaches those grooves. Worth noting but rarely worth returning over on its own.

What To Actually Do About It

If you spot a genuine fault, most reputable record shops and labels will offer a replacement or refund, especially if you catch it early. A few practical tips:

• Inspect the record under good light before you even play it, looking for visible non fill, scuffs, or warping
• Give it a proper clean before deciding a noise is a pressing fault rather than surface contamination
• Play both sides fully at least once before deciding whether to keep it, some faults only show up on certain tracks
• Keep the outer sleeve and packaging until you're sure the record is good, most returns need it
• Don't be afraid to reach out to the seller, most are used to this and would rather sort it out than lose a customer

A Bit of Perspective

Not every crackle means a faulty pressing. Vinyl as a format has some inherent surface noise, and even a perfectly pressed record will pick up a bit of dust and static over time. The goal isn't to hunt for perfection, it's to recognise the difference between normal vinyl character and an actual manufacturing defect. Once you've heard a few genuine faults, you'll start to develop an ear for what's worth flagging and what's just part of owning records.