FAQ

To be classified as audiophile, a vinyl needs to meet all three following conditions :

- source has to be the recording original analog master tape or the uncompressed master digital recording,

- all equipments used to manufacture the vinyl (tape machine, equalizer, cutting lathe) have to be 100% analog,

- pressing should be with lacquers of high quality (140 grams or above).

These three conditions ensure the highest sound quality.

Most of vinyl are made from MP3 or compressed digital recording. The transformation of sound (which is an analog signal) into a compressed digital signal loses a significant share of signal information. Using digital equipment to manufacture vinyl increases further that loss of information.

Thus, the difference between the original (analog) sound and the digital signal that is sent to the cutting machine is important.

Then, using low weight lacquer (like 100 grams) is a further source of signal disruption.

As a result, sound quality is significantly lower than on audiophile vinyl.

A first reason why all vinyl are not audiophile is that analog master tapes are not always available, either because they have been lost or damaged, or because the original recording has been performed using digital compression technologies in the first place.

The second reason is that there are few engineers who master required analog technologies and high quality cutting, thus limiting the production capacities of audiophile vinyl.

The third reason is cost :

- analog tape machines and equalizers are scarce and expensive to acquire and maintain,

- high quality lacquer is expensive.

Altough we specialize in audiophile vinyl and most of our vinyl are audiophile, we provide a few vinyl which cannot be classified as audiophile to answer our customers' demand.

However, we differentiate "audiophile vinyl" and "other vinyl" and provide detailed information on the vinyl so that customers can be sure when they buy an audiophile vinyl.

First, our menu specifies whether or not the customer will access a list of audiophile vinyl or "other vinyl".

Secondly, on all vinyl collection, we provide a filter that allows selection of audiophile vinyl only, or show if the displayed vinyls are audiophile vinyl or "other vinyl".

Thirdly, for all vinyl we provide detailed information to make sure that our customers know exactly what they are buying :

- original analog Master tape (YES / unspecified),

- the quality of pressing.

Audiophile vinyl are the vinyl for which we specify that the vinyl has been produced from the original Master tape or from an uncompressed Digital recording and with high quality lacquer.

AudioSoundMusic can ship to European Union countries, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Australia, New Zeland, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubaï, South Africa. 

Except for Iceland and Corsica, AudioSoundMusic does not ship to islands including Greek Islands
(Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, …), Italian islands (Sardinia,
Sicily, Capri, Elba, …), Spanish islands (the Canary Islands, Mallorca, …), Portugal
(Azores and Madeira), Denmark islands (The Faroe Islands, Greenland), Finland
islands.

AudioSoundMusic does not ship to France oversea territories (French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion Island, Saint-Martin, ...).

There no return policy in regards to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubaï, South Africa. 

For European Union countries If you purchase more than €99, shipping is free.

For other countries or below €99, shipping cost will be calculated at checkout based on country of destination.

In-stock Vinyl are shipped within five working days and then delivery takes between 2 to 10 additional working days depending on country of destination,

Pre-ordered vinyl are shipped when they are get in stock which can take months. Labels do not provide date of shipment for back-ordered vinyl or awaiting repress vinyl, making it impossible for us to provide a delivery date to our customers for pre-ordered vinyl.

Cables and equipment, are made to order which can take a few weeks depending on product and manufacturers.

For special orders, we provide a tentative date of delivery before the client finalize the order.

We take a great care of the conditionning of our products for shipping.

However, manufacturing defects or damages due to transportation can happen, altough very rarely.

In case, one product is either damaged or misfunctionning, the following return policy applies :

1/ The customer should report product issue to us within 5 days after shipment delivery, using the After Sales assistance form which can be found under the following link : After Sales assistance – AudioSoundMusic

2/ We will then provide the customer with a pre-paid return shipping label to be used to ship back to us the defect product.

Customer needs to ship back the product with the original packaging and within 10 days after having received the pre-paid return shipping label. We will not refund any cost incurred by the customer to ship back the product by other means than the pre-paid return shipping label.

3/ After delivery of the default product to us, we will send the customer a replacement product to the same address as the original shipment.

In case the returned product is not defective, shipping costs for both ways and a 20% restocking fee will be charged to the customer before we ship back the product.

There no return policy in regards to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubaï, South Africa.