Black vs Colour vs Picture Discs

Close-up of a vinyl record player with a stack of silver-colored vinyl records on the turntable, a red stylus arm, and a black turntable surface.

Colour Discs

Most coloured discs have a less-reflective matt finish, which makes it much harder to spot any damage or dirt. Add in ‘swirl’ or multicolour patterns, and it’s impossible to tell. I own and love many colour records and would have no problem buy them new, however I would always ask to hear it in-shop if I was buying a used one, to hear if it's in good condition or not. Colour discs used to sound inferior, but over time have become much closer to the fidelity of a traditional black record.

A DJ turntable with a vinyl record on it, featuring a colorful label with images and text.

Black Vinyl

The shiny & reflective jet black vinyl platter is the GOAT. It's an icon, and it's been perfected since 1948. The sleek black surface also gives so much information away about the condition of a disc, even on a brief glance. They are generally cheaper and sound better than the alternatives below.

A turntable with a pink vinyl record playing, featuring a black label with red and gray geometric design.

Picture discs

These are mostly a background picture covered in a thin layer of clear plastic. Due to the multicolour design it's almost impossible to tell the condition of a picture disc without playing it. The thin clear plastic generally sounds far worse than black vinyl, with a high 'noise floor'. I generally avoid picture discs. Once read that you should only buy them for your wall and not your turntable - which has always stuck with me.