Even if the sound quality of this new process is merely equal to traditional vinyl pressings it should be valuable to LP listeners for several reasons:
1) new vinyl presses do not otherwise exist and the industry is dependent on antiquated gear, mostly from the 1960s-70s for current LP production. Salvaging and reonovating the few remnant presses that remain from that time is the only means of increasing LP production and there are few individuals with the technical expertise to take on that task. Based on what I've read LP presses in North America are working at capacity to keep up with demand. This has led to lag times, backlogs, compromised quality, and likely increased cost to the consumer.
2) the new process is state of the art and uses robotics which ought to increase quality control and quality assurance. At the user's end this should reduce off-center pressings, random marks across grooves from LPs that don't drop flat out of the press, and the slight edge warps that result from the removal process in current presses.
3) the new injection material itself is a composition other than traditional vinyl and hopefully better. Take for example the virgin vinyl used in MFSL pressings which was superior to mass production LPs for tracking quietly, lack of static, relatively no warpage, and better wear resistance. Presumably the new composition would at least equal these factors and if there is even a slight betterment of SQ then all is positive.
The new process is obviously an expensive venture and I hope the results are wholly positive in which case it should spell benefits for consumers, hopefully without an increased cost. Time will tell and I hope this is a success
