New mid-year figures show CD sales growing far faster than vinyl, while approximately half of younger CD buyers do not even own a CD player. Could this be the start of a revived format war, or simply a broader change in how people value physical music. For the best part of two decades, whenever we have spoken about the return … Read More
White Bridge M2 Vinyl Flattener Review: Does It Really Work?
Warped records are a thorn in the side of any record collector. Sadly, they are also far more common than we would like—particularly, in my experience, with new records. Whether that comes down to rushed manufacturing, insufficient cooling at the pressing plant, poor storage or careless shipping is difficult to say. Whatever the cause, it is frustrating to unwrap a … Read More
iFi ZEN Phono 3 Review: Still the Phono Preamp to Beat?
The original iFi ZEN Phono was my living-room phono stage of choice for quite some time. That should give you a fairly good idea of where I stood on it. There are plenty of affordable phono preamps that sound decent, but the original ZEN Phono stood out for combining a remarkably low noise floor with accurate RIAA equalisation, adjustable gain … Read More
Competition: Win FOUR Record Display Adaptors + A Record Cleaning Kit
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
HumminGuru EZ Record Washer Review: Better Than a Spin-Clean?
The Spin-Clean has been one of the most recognisable affordable record-cleaning systems for decades. I have owned mine for many years, and despite its limitations, it remains a simple and effective way to batch-clean a collection without spending hundreds—or even thousands—on a powered record-cleaning machine. HumminGuru’s EZ Record Washer follows the same basic principle. It is a compact basin that … 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