Nagaoka LP inner sleeves
RS-LP2 - Record sleeves - 500 pieces set

Every record is only as well protected as its inner sleeve. Most pressings — including many premium releases — are still shipped in simple paper sleeves that attract dust, deteriorate over time and grind microscopic scratches into the vinyl every time the record is removed. The solution has been known for decades: the Nagaoka No. 102, an anti-static treated film from Japan that has long been the uncontested global standard for long-term vinyl storage.

The No. 102 is identical to the inner sleeves included with Japanese pressings in the 1980s — a quality hallmark that collectors and audiophiles worldwide recognise immediately. Today sold under the designation RS-LP2, the material and workmanship remain unchanged: 25-micron HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), with a dedicated anti-static treatment, in the characteristic U-format with rounded corners — manufactured in Japan to the highest quality standards.

Paper sleeves seem harmless — but they are not. Their rough fibre structure leaves fine abrasion marks on the vinyl every time the record is inserted or removed, continuously depositing dust particles directly into the groove walls. Particularly insidious: paper absorbs ambient moisture and can, over time, effectively bond to the record surface.

Standard polyethylene sleeves without anti-static treatment are no better. The friction of removing a record creates an electrostatic charge — the sleeve clings to the vinyl, and any dust trapped between the two surfaces is pressed directly into the groove on the next play. The result: crackle, noise and premature stylus wear.

The No. 102 is made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) — a high-density plastic that by its very nature presents a far smoother surface than ordinary polyethylene. The dedicated anti-static treatment additionally suppresses charge build-up during friction: the sleeve does not cling, dust does not cling, and the record glides out with minimal effort — without the groove walls ever contacting fibres or electrostatically attracted particles.

The U-shape with rounded corners is no coincidence: it is specifically designed so the film slides into existing original paper sleeves without resistance. The original cover — with its liner notes, lyrics and artwork — is fully preserved. No compromise between protection and authenticity.

Nagaoka is known in the audiophile world above all as a manufacturer of high-quality phono cartridges — the MP series ranks among the most consistently recommended MM systems available. Yet for decades, the Japanese company has been equally committed to premium vinyl care accessories: cleaning kits, stylus storage and, of course, the famous inner sleeves. The No. 102 was developed in the 1980s and has since been the standard inclusion with numerous Japanese pressings — an indirect quality guarantee that still holds today.

Those who take the time to systematically re-sleeve an entire record collection with Nagaoka inner sleeves will hear the difference at the next play: less crackle, cleaner silence between tracks, and the assurance that every record is stored in the way its value deserves.