Low quality lp?

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It is translucent vinyl.

One record plant owner puts the varying sound characteristics of different colours of vinyl down to the way they mould.

With black vinyl the coulourant is always going to be carbon, but using other colourants introduces a variable into the moulding process.

Translucent white vinyl is natural vinyl and is said to mould well, but although similar in performance to black vinyl it doesn't have its rigidity.

Opaque white vinyl, of course, has a colourant added so is not to be confused with natural vinyl.
 
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The clear vinyl film that 3M originally manufactured for picture discs obviously has inferior properties to those of translucent natural vinyl.

I can't find any information on the particular 3M film used on picture discs, but as well as being thin it will lack rigidity and quickly wear out.
 
I remember long time ago, you could purchase a picture postcard, which on the back was a sp record. Typically just one song or two.
Terrible quality of course, as it was sent without any sleave.
Pics from internet.
 

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I believe carbon black reduces friction which may be why they sound better.

I can't find a reference to that function. PVC is in itself a sufficiently smooth material.

However, I have read that carbon can reduce static electricity as described in this patent for a conductive phonograph record.

The principle is that carbon has conductive properties, reducing the accumulation of static.
 
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In my experience, other than a well-engineered master, the best vinyl I've heard was due to the care taken when it was pressed. Good PVC with minimal contaminates (like old labels in recycled vinyl), a minimal number of pressings per stamper, cleaning and handling prior to packaging. It's probably coincidental that they are also black. Most of the colored vinyl and pictures discs seem to be lacking in the care taken during manufacture and packaging.