Vinyl Weight Quality

Perrin2025

New Member
Hello all -

Newbie to the community, so learning as I go. I have been reading about different weights of vinyl records, in this case 12" records and wanted to get some feedback from the community on their experience with heavier records, and whether or now they're worth the extra money they might cost?

Here is my understanding of the different weight breakdown:

120g - 140g = Standard Issue/Quality
150g - 180g = Audiophile Quality
200g+ = Ultimate Audiophile Experience

From what I am seeing it appears a lot of records don't come out in 180g or 200g? While I have seen a few 180g options, most appear to be rated at 140g. I haven't seen a 200g+ record at this point when looking at places like Burning Shed or Discogs. I assume they are more rare?

I am curious the real difference in sound quality, and whether it's noticeable to people? I know that is a very subjective question, but I am trying to measure the value of trying to buy most things in 150g - 180g just to focus on the best sound possible.

Thanks in advance.
 
I rarely consider the weight of a record when purchasing. It's a bonus if it's heavier than the normal 140g, but I'm not really going to buy it because it is, nor would I pay extra because it's a heavyweight record.

As far as sound quality - sure there may be some increase in fidelity, but I have some great sounding sub 100g dynaflex releases, too. So I don't think too much about it.
 
Hello all -

Newbie to the community, so learning as I go. I have been reading about different weights of vinyl records, in this case 12" records and wanted to get some feedback from the community on their experience with heavier records, and whether or now they're worth the extra money they might cost?

Here is my understanding of the different weight breakdown:

120g - 140g = Standard Issue/Quality
150g - 180g = Audiophile Quality
200g+ = Ultimate Audiophile Experience

From what I am seeing it appears a lot of records don't come out in 180g or 200g? While I have seen a few 180g options, most appear to be rated at 140g. I haven't seen a 200g+ record at this point when looking at places like Burning Shed or Discogs. I assume they are more rare?

I am curious the real difference in sound quality, and whether it's noticeable to people? I know that is a very subjective question, but I am trying to measure the value of trying to buy most things in 150g - 180g just to focus on the best sound possible.

Thanks in advance.
So really.... the weight makes almost no difference whatsoever to the quality of sound you're getting from the record. The main thing you want, and what the heavier weight pressings claim to help with, is you want your record pressed flat onto the surface of your platter. If the record is coupled with the platter, without any warps etc... that will help with the sound quality when the stylus tracks the grooves. The idea with heavyweight vinyl is that it will have less warps and sit flat on the platter. In actuality it really doesn't help much with either of these things. Best thing you can do is get either a record weight or a record clamp for your table to keep all your records flat on the surface of your platter. And many of us have record flattening devices to help with this too. Vinyl Flat or Record Pi or something of the sort.
 
Theoretically, the extra weight will help couple the record, you’ll get tighter bass response etc because of this. However, while @Mather may be right in theory about it should produce flatter records, I’m sure his experience, like mine would show that there is a greater risk of these heavier records actually being warped.

I also have 100g dynaflex records from back in the day that sound better than most “audiophile grade” records. Mastering matters more than just about anything else.
 
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Theoretically, the extra weight will help couple the record, you’ll get tighter bass response etc because of this. However, while @‘ather may be right in theory about it should produce flatter records, I’m sure his experience, like mine would show that there is a greater risk of these heavier records actually being warped.

I also have 100g dangled records from back in the day that sound better than most “audiophile grade” records. Mastering matters more than just about anything else.

Mastering and pressing. I’d go so far as to say that weight is irrelevant and for 200g they’re so thick that you could argue they throw your VTF off. And maybe vinyl formulation but I’m a little less certain about that. The mofi one step doo dahs on their fancy vinyl formulation are 140g and late 70s and early 80s oil crisis razor thin ones beat most heavyweight records of today that aren’t audiophile.
 
Don’t let this get lost. Particularly if you’re starting out - they’re not expensive and can make a nice difference.
Be sure to check manufacturer specs on a weight. Clamps can also present problems depending on your table, pro-jects (I think) aren’t compatible with a Michel and you shouldn’t use a clamp on a spindle that is not metal (says the guy using his Michel on an Orbit).
 
Be sure to check manufacturer specs on a weight. Clamps can also present problems depending on your table, pro-jects (I think) aren’t compatible with a Michel and you shouldn’t use a clamp on a spindle that is not metal (says the guy using his Michel on an Orbit).

Pro-ject make their own clamps which are compatible with the debuts and the likes where the bearing doesn’t need any more weight. The higher tables they make weights for too but with those substitution for a third party isn’t going to cause an issue to long as you don’t go heavier than their own.
 
Pro-ject make their own clamps which are compatible with the debuts and the likes where the bearing doesn’t need any more weight. The higher tables they make weights for too but with those substitution for a third party isn’t going to cause an issue to long as you don’t go heavier than their own.
Maybe it was Rega, but doesn’t one of the companies actively discourage weights and clamps and makes their spindle short to prevent the use of them?
 
So really.... the weight makes almost no difference whatsoever to the quality of sound you're getting from the record. The main thing you want, and what the heavier weight pressings claim to help with, is you want your record pressed flat onto the surface of your platter. If the record is coupled with the platter, without any warps etc... that will help with the sound quality when the stylus tracks the grooves. The idea with heavyweight vinyl is that it will have less warps and sit flat on the platter. In actuality it really doesn't help much with either of these things. Best thing you can do is get either a record weight or a record clamp for your table to keep all your records flat on the surface of your platter. And many of us have record flattening devices to help with this too. Vinyl Flat or Record Pi or something of the sort.
Thanks for the great feedback. It puts it in perspective for me, and was a great explanation.

I am thinking about getting the Technics 1200GR2 and was planning to buy a record weight for it. I hadn't read about any restrictions on that table, but curious if you think there will be possible issues with the wrong weight on it?

Thanks again
 
Theoretically, the extra weight will help couple the record, you’ll get tighter bass response etc because of this. However, while @Mather may be right in theory about it should produce flatter records, I’m sure his experience, like mine would show that there is a greater risk of these heavier records actually being warped.

I also have 100g dynaflex records from back in the day that sound better than most “audiophile grade” records. Mastering matters more than just about anything else.
Thanks so much. Do you have any recommendations for good sites I can use to verify the quality of the mastering or general sound of a record? So far I have been checking out discogs, Burning Shed, and Amazon some info. But curious if there are better sites that are more granular?

Thanks again
 
Don’t let this get lost. Particularly if you’re starting out - they’re not expensive and can make a nice difference.
Thanks. I have been thinking about this as some of the accessories for the table I am looking at buying. It is the Technics 1200GR2. Curious if you think I need use a specific weight on that table?

Thanks again
 
Be sure to check manufacturer specs on a weight. Clamps can also present problems depending on your table, pro-jects (I think) aren’t compatible with a Michel and you shouldn’t use a clamp on a spindle that is not metal (says the guy using his Michel on an Orbit).
I am looking at the Technics 1200GR2, so let me check their site and see if they mention any restrictions for a record weight before I buy one. Any am looking for stylus brushes and record cleaners/brushes too, so I will add this to that list.

Thanks again
 
Thanks for the great feedback. It puts it in perspective for me, and was a great explanation.

I am thinking about getting the Technics 1200GR2 and was planning to buy a record weight for it. I hadn't read about any restrictions on that table, but curious if you think there will be possible issues with the wrong weight on it?

Thanks again
I'm not a Technics owner but some of the others on here are, I don't believe there's any issue with them but I'm sure others will chime in here that know better.
 
I'm not a Technics owner but some of the others on here are, I don't believe there's any issue with them but I'm sure others will chime in here that know better.
Thanks. I'll check their website too, and do a little more digging. It's good to know that there are possible issues, as I thought it was going to be a one size fits all for that. Better to avoid the problem if I can. Lots to learn.
 
Thanks. I'll check their website too, and do a little more digging. It's good to know that there are possible issues, as I thought it was going to be a one size fits all for that. Better to avoid the problem if I can. Lots to learn.
I know sometimes the spindles can be too short for some clamps (Rega), and I know some tables don't like the extra weight as it can strain the motor or bearings. But I don't recall if Technics are either of those however.
 
Thanks so much. Do you have any recommendations for good sites I can use to verify the quality of the mastering or general sound of a record? So far I have been checking out discogs, Burning Shed, and Amazon some info. But curious if there are better sites that are more granular?

Thanks again
For particular records:

For general safe bet type information:
 
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