Back in 2020, Hungarian innovators HEXMAT turned the platter mat market on its head with the truly unique Yellow Bird record isolator. The new Eclipse model promises further improvements on the initial concept. Can it deliver? Sound Matters put the HEXMAT Eclipse through its paces. Platter mats are often overlooked in the turntable accessory market. After all, why would a … Read More
The Only Record Cleaning Pads You’ll Ever Need?
GrooveWasher now has not just one but three different record cleaning pads. The two additional cleaning pads are said to have distinct advantages and serve very specific purposes. The topic of how to clean vinyl records is fairly contentious. After all, each record collector has their preferred method and products for maintaining clean records that sound great. As the saying … Read More
Locked Grooves Vinyl – Endless Fun (Literally)
In a recent feature, we explored the weird and wonderful world of run-out groove messages. From mastering engineer signatures to hidden messages and inside-jokes, there is a whole world of interesting etchings to explore. Closely related to this topic is the world of audible locked grooves. Standard records have a locked groove at the end of each side, usually in … Read More
Win a GrooveWasher Record Cleaning Bundle
We’re delighted to provide you with a chance of winning GrooveWasher’s Mondo Record and Stylus Care System. The Mondo bundle is their top-of-the-line care package and comes complete with GrooveWasher’s beautiful solid walnut handle and display block. You will also receive an SC1 Stylus Cleaning Kit, the vibrant splash landing towel, and a sizable 8oz refill bottle. With all this … Read More
Jack White to Major Labels: “Build Your Own Pressing Plants”
In a recent video and statement, Jack White calls on major labels to build their own pressing plants once again. His plea comes at a moment in time where demand for vinyl records continues to grow year on year, but the capacity for production remains rudimentary and pushed to the limit. In his statement, he claims, “At least once a … Read More
Vinyl Run-Out Groove Messages – The Weird and The Wonderful
Traditionally, the dead wax between the final grooves and the record label is a relatively benign, uninteresting space. You might find a matrix number, or perhaps a few extra digits referring to the cut or take of a particular record—or maybe, if you’re lucky, the mastering engineer or pressing plant will add their own signature. Look a little closer, though, … Read More
New Bamboo Vinyl Wall Display from Twelve Inch
In a push to improve the quality and sustainability of their products, Sound Matters partners Twelve Inch have switched their popular frameless record display systems from plastic to Bamboo. As a vinyl enthusiast and a fan of natural materials to boot, the new product sounds ideal on paper. Sound Matters dig deeper to see how the new design measures up. … Read More
Live Albums: A Love Letter to Music in its Purest Form
As live music slowly starts to return (depending on where you live), Vinyl Pursuit co-founder Tammy Brown proclaims her love for live albums and why now is the time to turn up the volume on your favorite concerts from rock history. Words by Tammy Brown of Vinyl Pursuit Back in the day, it was easy to dismiss live albums as … Read More
Top Vinyl Record Books For Record Collectors
As record enthusiasts, we like nothing more than to indulge in our hobby. We’ll explore every aspect in search of vinyl nirvana, whether it’s through the pages of a website like Sound Matters, the many excellent resources available on YouTube, or even good old fashioned printed books. Many of us don’t do things by halves, and we’re a stickler for … Read More
Best Way to Clean Vinyl Records? Five Methods – Pros & Cons
Ask ten people how to clean vinyl records, and you’ll undoubtedly get ten different answers. As the saying goes, “there’s more than one way to shine a penny”. Some methods of cleaning vinyl records are more widely excepted than others, of course, but if we take the pragmatic route, I think we can safely conclude that each approach has pros … Read More
