Spartan 15 Review: Michael Fidler’s New Double Stage Phono Preamp

Marc HenshallReviewsLeave a Comment

Michael Fidler’s company, Classic Audio Ltd made significant waves across the vinyl community back in December 2021 with the release of his Spartan 10 model phono preamp. By favoring all through-hole original circuit technology in place of cheaper surface-mounted exotically-sourced parts, the Spartan 10 was a breath of fresh air in a world where price and production scalability often take … Read More

HumminGuru Review – Affordable Ultrasonic Record Cleaning?

Marc HenshallCleaning Vinyl25 Comments

The relatively new HumminGuru record cleaner promises to deliver ultrasonic record cleaning power at an affordable price. Its compact size and all-in-one design will undoubtedly pique the interest of record collectors far and wide. To see how the unit performs, Sound Matters put the HumminGuru through its paces.  Ultrasonic cleaning for vinyl records is an interesting concept. It works by … Read More

Win a GrooveWasher Record Cleaning Bundle this Holiday Season

Marc HenshallNews14 Comments

We’ve teamed up with GrooveWasher in time for the holiday season to give TWO lucky grand prize winner a chance to win a complete record cleaning kit! The lucky winner will receive the GrooveWasher Mondo Record & Stylus Care System. The grand prize is worth $100 in total! VIEW PRODUCT How to Enter: All you have to do is enter … Read More

Soundeck Platter Mat PM295 Review – New & Improved?

Marc HenshallReviews2 Comments

I reviewed an earlier incarnation of Soundeck’s unique platter mat a few years ago, and I was so impressed it became one of my go-to platter mats. Having released a new and improved model, is the Soundeck still king? On first glance, a turntable platter mat made from metal sounds like a terrible idea. After all, metal platters are notorious … Read More

Rega Planar 1 Review: Still the Budget Turntable to Beat?

Marc HenshallReviews5 Comments

Rega Planar 1 Review

At a time when music lovers shopping for an entry-level turntable have an abundance of choice, is Rega’s Planar 1 still the one to beat? Since its initial release in 2005, Rega’s Planar 1 entry-level option has rightly earned a reputation as the benchmark by which all other affordable audiophile decks are measured. Pros Cons Easy setup Molded phono cable … Read More

Best Christmas Vinyl Records for Festive Cheer in 2023

Marc HenshallClassic Albums17 Comments

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

Storing Vinyl Records Safely to Protect Your Collection

Marc HenshallNew to Vinyl, Record Care, Record Storage13 Comments

Storing vinyl records safely is essential. Whether it’s for day-to-day accessibility or long-term in storage boxes, you must store them correctly to ensure they last a lifetime and beyond. You’ve worked hard to afford your collection, and the chances are, you’d like them to remain in great condition for as long as possible. If you’re anything like me, you’d probably … Read More

Pro-Ject Announce Pick it MC3, MC9, & PRO Balanced Phono Cartridges

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Pro-Ject has just announced the launch of three new cartridges, two of which are moving coil designs, with the third being the first moving magnet cartridge that can be used in a fully balanced phono setup. In recent years, Pro-Ject has worked closely in partnership with Ortofon to develop its Pick-it range of phono cartridges, achieving very impressive results. New … Read More

Best Budget Turntables In 2023 for Superb Sound

Marc HenshallNew to Vinyl, Reviews8 Comments

Getting set up to play vinyl records doesn’t have to break the bank.  In fact, some of the most affordable budget turntables on the market are capable of delivering Hi-Fi results for as little as $199.  Thanks to a continued resurgence in the popularity of vinyl as a medium, several manufacturers of turntables have applied their engineering prowess to produce … Read More