Why Inner Groove Distortion Happens

Inner groove distortion—often called IGD—is one of the most common vinyl playback issues, especially for beginners. It usually appears near the end of a record side, where vocals may sound harsher, cymbals smear, and sibilance (“sss” sounds) becomes more pronounced. But IGD isn’t a flaw in vinyl itself—it’s a challenge of geometry, tracking, and setup.