🧾 In a few words
Lathe-cut vinyls are made by cutting grooves in real time, not by stamping them like pressed records. This process creates slightly shallower grooves, which reduces the playback volume and dynamic range.
🔍 Details
🔍 Main reasons for lower volume:
- Shallower grooves: Lathe-cut machines don’t press grooves deep into the disc, resulting in less vibration for the stylus to pick up
- Real-time cutting: Unlike mass-pressed records, lathe-cut vinyls are made one by one — which limits how much audio data can be embedded
- Playback equipment sensitivity: Some turntables or needles pick up lower groove depth better than others
📉 Compared to commercial pressed vinyls:
- Lathe-cuts typically sound quieter, especially on soft vocals or acoustic tracks
- You may also hear more surface noise (a bit of static or hiss) — this is normal and varies per player
🔊 How to improve your experience:
- Use a high-quality stylus — elliptical tips and weighted tonearms track better on shallow grooves
- Increase the tracking force (usually 2.5g–3g max)
- Use external speakers or amplifiers for stronger output
- Consider our optional mastering service if your source audio is very soft
📌 For audiophiles or DJs, we always recommend sending high-quality WAV files and adding mastering as an add-on to improve clarity and balance.
🔗 Useful links
🧠 Pro tip
💡 Our lathe-cut records sound great for most users — but they’re not intended to match the fidelity of pressed records. They're perfect for keepsakes, gifts, and custom playlists.
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