Standard Goldmine visual grading works fine for a quick scan under a lamp, but it tells you very little about how a record actually sounds. Because every LP in this shop is auditioned on a turntable before listing, I use an audio-first grading scale based on real playback.
The Baseline
- No Skips. Any record that skips is immediately discarded.
- No Constant Noise. Any record with heavy, continuous surface noise throughout is discarded.
Every album listed in this shop plays through cleanly with minimal to no surface noise. The grades below simply distinguish the small details like the occasional static, soft tics, or isolated pops.
The Grades
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EX+ (Excellent Plus)
Near-flawless audio playback. No heavy pops or extended sequences of surface noise. You may hear an occasional, isolated soft tic, but general surface noise is virtually silent; or only noticeable during the quietest passages or between tracks, if at all.
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EX (Excellent)
A fantastic copy with minor play artifacts. May feature a single isolated pop, a brief cluster of 5–6 light tics, or subtle, low-level surface noise during quiet musical moments.
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EX- (Excellent Minus)
Still a very clean, enjoyable listen. May have a localized section of light tics or a few more sporadic pops spread across a side. Audio surface noise might be briefly audible during softer musical passages, typically toward the inner grooves near the end of a side.
A Note on Playback & Gear
Audio grading is inherently tied to the gear used to audition the record (cartridge profile, tracking force, and system alignment). While small variations can occur across different setups, every record in this shop is hand-selected to deliver a clean, highly enjoyable listening experience from start to finish.