Fluance Audio's video: How to tell if you have an off center vinyl record pressing and how to fix it

Have you ever put on a record and the music sounds like a boat on an angry sea? There's a good chance that you may have an off center pressing. Off-center pressings are records where the spindle in the center isn't properly aligned. As a result, the stylus moves back and forth, creating a wobbly type of effect that could be mistaken for wow and flutter. In this video, we will show you what to look for to confirm that your record is off center. It may sound like it would be easy to spot, but it isn't always obvious from looking at the record with your naked eye. We will also show you what to do about it... if you're feeling risky. You can read our article about off center pressings right here: https://blog.fluance.com/off-center-pressings-on-vinyl-lps-what-is-it-and-how-can-you-correct-it?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=videodescription&utm_campaign=OffCenterVideo Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FluanceAudio/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/fluance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluanceaudio/ --- Transcript: Have you ever put on a record and it felt like the sound was rocking back and forth, kind of like a boat on an angry sea? You may have an off center pressing. An off center pressing is a record where the hole in the middle of the record isn't properly aligned. As a result, the stylus can't properly track the grooves. It sways back and forth, creating a distorted sound that makes the record unlistenable. And even if you are okay with music that sounds like it was recorded underwater, overt ime, this will damage your stylus. It isn't always obvious if a record is off center. You would think that you would be able to tell with a glance, but to the naked eye, an off center record may appear normal. Here's how you can check for sure. Play the record. Pay close attention to the needle, and if it moves back and forth, left to right, it's off center. If the cartridge stays in the same place and the record spins underneath, the hole is properly aligned. Off center pressings can be fixed by sending them back. Yes, this is a great example of why you should buy your vinyl from a reputable seller with a reasonable exchange policy. The easiest thing to do is just return it and exchange it for another. If you don't mind taking the risk of damaging the record, you can use a razor blade to enlarge the hole. Put it on your turntable and manually move it back and forth until it sounds okay. Take some tape, tape over the hole, and essentially create a new hole. Granted, you should never ever sell a record in this condition, but it may get your record going for the time being. The good news is that off center pressings are pretty rare. You may never have one in your collection. Do you have one in your collection? Leave a comment down below, let us know, and while you're at it, hit subscribe. As always, thank you very much for watching. We'll see you next time.