What Does 180 Mean For Vinyl

180 gram vinyl explained in short it s all about weight.

What does 180 mean for vinyl.

80 s vinyl is plentiful but still flimsy and rather bendy. It means nothing really. Audiophile grade vinyl was a term originally used by labels that went out of their way to produce extraordinarily good sounding vinyl. Ironically this is not in reference to groove wear from being in contact with the stylus.

A heavier vinyl platter is more robust and durable. 33 45 and 78 rpm is the speed at which the most common commercially available vinyl records spin at represented in revolutions per minute. Warm analog sound gave way to a more sterile perfect aesthetic. The quality of the sound derives from the vinyl compound as opposed to the weight of the disc.

A 180 gram lp is not only more satisfying to handle and place on the turntable but it offers more resistance to clutzy manipulation and other possible abuses. Sure 180g lps ride more smoothly on a turntable thanks to their weight but the benefits end there. A 180 gram vinyl record is approximately 2 8 mm thick. 180 200g does have the potential to sound just as great but it is mostly a cosmetic quality.

A standard 140 gram vinyl record is approximately 2 1 mm thick. 180 gram vinyl by contrast is significantly thicker and heavier creating a product that is widely considered to be audiophile grade. You will notice that most pre 90 vinyl was about 140g and still sounds fantastic. What does 33 45 and 78 rpm mean.

Historically there is an implied quality standard associated with 180 gram vinyl or 200 gram vinyl. The vast majority of 12 inch records that have been pressed in the 20th century weigh between 120 and 140 grams. The introduction of digital methods of recording and mastering also changed the way it sounded. Everything depends on the mastering process.

As a result many 80 s vinyl lps tried to closely replicate the digital output of cds. The records themselves are often referred to by their speed. It has become a selling point for many new presses but ultimately it is meaningless.