Injection Molded Records Are Here!

listen and compare the same title pressed two ways

(There's NEW AUDIO attached to the video below). The German company Sonopress last year announced that it was developing an injection molded vinyl record production process, calling the resulting record an "EcoRecord".

The environmentally friendly process is similar to how optical media like laserdiscs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are manufactured (Sonopress developed 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray technology).

With optical disc popularity giving way to streaming its both ironic and sensible for the company to re-imagine its technology in service of vinyl— the sole disc growth market. This year Sonopress rolled out EcoRecords, with an order from Warner Music Group for a Liam Gallagher and John Squire release.

Numerous orders have rolled in for EcoRecords, which are pressed using recylable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) instead of PVC. I got ahold of a Kylie Minogue record pressed both hydraulically and injection molded. It's hardly the kind of music that will allow you to really hear any major sonic differences, but minor ones are interesting. No guessing games here: the first one is hydraulic, the second is injection molded.

Comments

2024-08-17 08:32:35 PM

Lemon Curry wrote:

New methods are intriguing, but I read this material wears out. If they can fix that...
- 2024-08-18 01:42:02 AM
  
  Silk Dome Mid wrote:
  
  I looked it up, and found a couple of sources that say PET has "better strength and toughness" than PVC. Of course, that might differ depending on the application.
2024-08-18 04:13:27 AM

JuzDisGuy wrote:

Mike from the In Groove reviewed one of these eco-vinyl (Billie Eilish). As I recall, his verdict was “eco-shit”.
- 2024-08-22 04:12:41 PM
  
  Jeffrey Puckett wrote:
  
  No one cares about Mike’s opinions.
2024-08-18 01:53:11 PM

Ian wrote:

Many people commented on YouTube that they preffered the second record, so that was the injection moulded one? I must admit through my TV the first one sounded brighter, I preffered the warmer sound of the second one. It maybe that the first one had more detail if heard first hand. Will be interesting to hear what Mr. Fremer thought as he was in the room after all...
- 2024-08-18 07:59:10 PM
  
  Michael Fremer wrote:
  
  the audio was defective....I had a computer glitch. was recorded using in room microphone! It's now replaced with the correct audio
  - 2024-08-18 08:48:17 PM
    
    tim davis wrote:
    
    I was hoping something was off. I heard a lot of noise I felt shouldn't be there originally unless it was sound effects in the mix. After seeing Michael's glitch update I listened again. That noise was gone. Now the 2 main things I notice is more low end impact & presence on the 1st than the second (disclaimer, my DIY 2 way on a warm day like this has an F3 around 34 hz) & a lot more of the old pops n tics on the start of the 2nd so now I wonder if both were properly cleaned before the recordings were made? If not what I heard may have just been due to which manufacturer had the cleanest enviroment as opposed to the methods used.
2024-08-19 01:03:52 PM

Mtglass wrote:

I’m all for it if it is as good or better!
2024-08-19 06:13:21 PM

Marc wrote:

Yes, I would also be interested how long these records last. Maybe Mr. Fremer could perform an endurance test? When listening to the music I could not hear a difference to be honest but thought it is auto tune garbage…
- 2024-08-19 11:09:48 PM
  
  Lemon Curry wrote:
  
  I've heard the PET material rated at "500 plays". What does that mean, exactly? It's perfect till 500, or it linearly degrades until at 500 it's worthless, like what happens to an acetate? One thing's for sure - neither sample was quiet. No Clarity Vinyl here.
  - 2024-08-20 07:21:22 PM
    
    Marc wrote:
    
    Yes, not very clear.. agree to all said.
    - 2024-08-21 05:49:32 PM
      
      Jeff 'Glotz' Glotzer wrote:
      
      That noise is very worrisome. Glad you both mentioned it.
2024-08-19 09:06:12 PM

Robert DuPont wrote:

I have a new pressing of XTC 's first single pressed on eco vinyl , I'll have to look again who manufactured it... I have a couple of import 45's from the 80's that were injection molded - Kate Bush, the Jam - they were made in France , but they sounded pretty bad ( with Kate I upgraded to a UK press ) Of course they were 45's .. I'm sure these must be better , I will give it a listen
2024-08-21 03:25:03 PM

J-Claude Drouet wrote:

regardless of the materials utilized, which will always be subject to change, this process is awesome. Mayhaps this will bring the cost of records down to a respectable level. Press on!
2024-08-29 05:20:25 AM

Thomas Ambler wrote:

Now they just have to convince us that they sound better and our record collecting could start again from the beginning, maybe with another copy of Kind of Blue.
2024-08-29 09:24:08 AM

Diogo wrote:

Decca used to make injection-molded singles in the UK back in the 80's. They're some of the best-sounding singles I own.