To celebrate record store day, we’ve teamed up with Twelve Inch for your chance to win FOUR record cover display adaptors bundled with a solid walnut GrooveWasher record cleaning kit. These adaptors are perfect for displaying album covers on a wall to deck out your listening space. Made from beautiful Bamboo, they’re also kind on the environment. Twelve Inch bamboo … Read More
Best Christmas Vinyl Records for Festive Cheer in 2025
The temperatures are dropping and the decorations are rising; it’s the most wonderful time of year once again and you’re starting to feel the festive cheer. Perfect… All you need now are some Christmas tunes to set the atmosphere. And what could be better than the warm and comforting sound of vinyl as you deck the halls and celebrate with … Read More
Gift Ideas For Vinyl Lovers & Record Collectors 2025
Gift Ideas For Vinyl Lovers & Record Collectors – lots of ideas.
Sound Matters Awards 2025
Welcome to the first Sound Matters awards; a celebration of excellence in accessible HiFi with a focus on vinyl playback. In a market full of hype and a great deal of snobbery, these awards cut through the noise—highlighting the gear that truly enhances the vinyl listening experience while still remaining affordable. Every winner has been chosen on merit, through hands-on … Read More
JICO’s Clipper‑S Cartridge: Straight‑Arm Precision for the Modern Vinyl Lover
Japanese analogue specialist JICO has added a new member to its C‑REVO cartridge family. The Clipper‑S is a moving‑magnet (MM) cartridge and head-shell system designed specifically for straight tonearms and is now available in the UK. Unlike S‑ and J‑shaped arms, straight arms don’t have the same offset angle at the headshell, which can lead to misalignment if you fit … Read More
Pro-Ject Flatten It: Can It Fix Warped Records
Warped records can be a real thorn in the side for record collectors. Whether due to poor storage or manufacturing defects, we all have records in our collections that aren’t flat, resulting in degraded audio quality or a risk of damaging our cartridge’s cantilever. In extreme cases, warps can make a record completely unplayable, as the stylus can pop right … Read More
Win a GrooveWasher Record Cleaning Kit with Custom Sound Matters Logo
We’ve teamed up with GrooveWasher to give THREE lucky grand prize winners a chance to win a record cleaning kit! The lucky winner(s) will receive a GrooveWasher record cleaning kit with custom etched Sound Matters logo on the beautiful solid walnut handle. GrooveWasher record cleaning kits are perfect for hand cleaning your records or gentle cleaning before playback. VIEW PRODUCT … Read More
Time to Upgrade Your Vinyl Protection: Inner Sleeve Options from Vinyl Storage Solutions
Are your vinyl records truly safe from scratches and dust? We explore seven inner sleeve options from Vinyl Storage Solutions that will keep your collection pristine. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each sleeve to find the perfect fit for your records! Introduction to Vinyl Storage Solutions As a vinyl collector, protecting your precious records is paramount. Vinyl … Read More
HumminGuru S-DUO PRO Review: Genius or Gimmick?
The S-DUO PRO by HumminGuru is the latest incarnation of their ultrasonic stylus cleaner and tracking for gauge. Is this a must-have turntable accessory, or is it just another hi-fi gimmick? The S-DUO Pro replaced the original S-DUO, introducing upgrades in the form of a rechargeable battery and built-in accessory storage. Rechargability, in particular, is a welcome upgrade, as some … Read More
Top Rules for Record Collecting
When it comes to buying records, I’m sure we can all agree, it’s not always a walk in the park. The continuous hunt for vinyl-nirvana is a never-ending pilgrimage that lasts a lifetime. When I first started, buying records was somewhat of a minefield, and a learning curve, but over the years, I’ve developed several red-lines that a) help keep … Read More