Does coloured vinyl sound worse than the traditional black vinyl?

[CageyH]

I am interested to know if modern coloured vinyl sounds just as good as the traditional black vinyl?
Are there any long term issues with coloured vinyl becoming noisier?

[AJSki2fly]

I am interested to know if modern coloured vinyl sounds just as good as the traditional black vinyl?
Are there any long term issues with coloured vinyl becoming noisier?

I read an article on this subject a year or so ago, vinyl(PVC) is naturally clear in its pure state, carbon in some form is added to make it black, other colourings/chemicals are made to make it other hues.

The article I read included views from record manufacturers, engineers and producers, several said that certain colourations do seem to make a VERY SLIGHT difference sonically but that it was minor and not even worth worrying about. A couple even said that they considered clear vinyl best. All said that the key to good SQ was on pressing quality control to ensure records made are good. You may have noticed with more recently produced records that they are more prone to static build up, this is due to higher levels of carbon being used in black records by some manufacturers.

This video by Paul Rigby "The Audiophile Man" on cleaning records and possible issues with alcohol is quite informative on what goes into the composition of the vinyl pellets use to make records. It is not a simple topic and if you watch it your the question about the colour of vinyl may them seem not so important. A comment on Mr Rigby, some do not like him but his reviews are generally well respected and from what I can find out are reasonably independent.

On a personal note, I have a few records of different colour and some actually sound very good, one or two maybe not so, I personally the SQ I think it's all down to how much care is put into producing the recording and the record, and the purity of the PVC used.


https://youtu.be/duzVUTRLET8?si=6AdKsyE14BJEkbQ4

[CageyH]

Thanks for the video link. I shall have a look at it now.

[Pigmy Pony]

I would expect the differences in SQ would be barely audible, and would more likely be down to other factors. The only way to tell for sure would be to get a black version and a coloured version of the same issue/reissue for direct comparison, but I'm not about to buy two copies of the same recording to find out, not at the prices asked. Given the choice I do always opt for black though.

Picture discs may be a different matter, I have a picture disc of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams..." and it is so bad I refuse to play it. I'm guessing that the problem lies with whatever they've used to make the print forming an unwanted layer between the vinyl and the stylus.

[Macca]

Picture discs have always been bad.

I have a white vinyl copy of The Black Crowes 'Amorica' - does anyone have a black version? Then we could compare,

Although I suspect the condition of the stamper when each copy was made would make more difference. That's the trouble with vinyl comparisons - so many variables.

[rmcin626]

A few decades ago, I would never buy any coloured vinyl or a picture disc as sound was usually very poor plus they were very noisy, these days I have a few different coloured records and they should fine to my ears, all about the quality of the pressing.

[Barry]

I read an article on this subject a year or so ago, vinyl(PVC) is naturally clear in its pure state, carbon in some form is added to make it black, other colourings/chemicals are made to make it other hues.

The article I read included views from record manufacturers, engineers and producers, several said that certain colourations do seem to make a VERY SLIGHT difference sonically but that it was minor and not even worth worrying about. A couple even said that they considered clear vinyl best. All said that the key to good SQ was on pressing quality control to ensure records made are good. You may have noticed with more recently produced records that they are more prone to static build up, this is due to higher levels of carbon being used in black records by some manufacturers.

This video by Paul Rigby "The Audiophile Man" on cleaning records and possible issues with alcohol is quite informative on what goes into the composition of the vinyl pellets use to make records. It is not a simple topic and if you watch it your the question about the colour of vinyl may them seem not so important. A comment on Mr Rigby, some do not like him but his reviews are generally well respected and from what I can find out are reasonably independent.

On a personal note, I have a few records of different colour and some actually sound very good, one or two maybe not so, I personally the SQ I think it's all down to how much care is put into producing the recording and the record, and the purity of the PVC used.


https://youtu.be/duzVUTRLET8?si=6AdKsyE14BJEkbQ4

Carbon black is a conductor. It is added to the clear PVC for two reasons: to make cueing easier and to discharge any static charge on the insulating PVC.

The idea that increased concentration of carbon black to the PVC makes the records more prone to static build up is nonsense.

[Pigmy Pony]

Carbon black is a conductor. It is added to the clear PVC for two reasons: to make cueing easier and to discharge any static charge on the insulating PVC.

The idea that increased concentration of carbon black to the PVC makes the records more prone to static build up is nonsense.


Yeah I would expect the opposite to be true. I think it has more to do with the type of sleeve the record comes in anyway. I'd change all my inner sleeves for 'anti static' ones if I could afford to.

[AJSki2fly]

Carbon black is a conductor. It is added to the clear PVC for two reasons: to make cueing easier and to discharge any static charge on the insulating PVC.

The idea that increased concentration of carbon black to the PVC makes the records more prone to static build up is nonsense.

Then there must be some other additive in some new vinyl that causes the issue, I clean all my vinyl new and used before playing and place in anti-static sleeves and it is very noticeable that a high percentage of new vinyl from recent years gets more static build up, whereas older original records rarely do.

[Jimbo]

Never had a problem with coloured vinyl or transparent vinyl other than I hate the look of it on my turntable. I am a stick in the mud black only but not noticed any issues with SQ.

[Barry]

Then there must be some other additive in some new vinyl that causes the issue, I clean all my vinyl new and used before playing and place in anti-static sleeves and it is very noticeable that a high percentage of new vinyl from recent years gets more static build up, whereas older original records rarely do.

The whole business of pressing records is/was a 'black art'. Each record label had their own trade secrets. With the appearance of CD, a lot of the know how was lost as pressing plant operators were either made redundant or retired.

Recently with the resurgence of vinyl, independent pressing plants have sprung up, using old equipment which to be truthful had seen better days, and operated by newcomers who have yet to learn the techniques of their former colleagues.

The way records are pressed differs country to country, as does their quality.

I too clean any 'new' LP on receipt and use a Decca record brush before playing. I have never had a problem with static.

As Steve says, the choice of inner sleeve is important. None are perfect, with the exception of the very expensive E-Stat carbon fibre sleeves originally distributed by Tannoy.

[Pete The Cat]

I have some great coloured vinyl LPs. However black shows things up better and I understand that quality checking at pressing plants or by vendors can't be as effective on coloured vinyl.

Pete

[Qwin]

Why are records Black........

https://www.furnacemfg.com/blog/why-are-vinyl-records-black/#:~:text=By%20coloring%20records%20black%20with,ge t%20the%20scoop%20every%20month.

[Barry]

As I said in post 7.

[CageyH]

My red vinyl arrived, and it sounds fine. No surface noise noticeable.

[Enossification]

I have numerous coloured vinyl records mainly by Ozric Tentacles and the sound is superb. I guess therefore my answer would be a definite no.

[MarginWalker]

Technically speaking black is best, then natural clear, followed by crystal clear and all standard colours, then effect vinyl such as splatter and marble, picture discs are basically flexidiscs stuck o to a plain piece of vinyl which is why they generally sound awful

[MarginWalker]

In practical terms though I haven't heard much difference between black and coloured vinyl variants of the same pressing

[Qwin]

Dark colours tend to require a lower percentage of pigment to achieve a good solid colour, worst scenario is white.
Its the same with paint and this is why White paint offers the least rust protection.
It's doubtful that the differing amounts of pigment, which only accounts for a few percent by volume, would be enough to cause a discernible difference in sound.
Picture discs are another matter.