It’s common knowledge that vinyl records need the occasional clean from time-to-time. Used record purchases, in particular, should always be cleaned before they go anywhere near your turntable and stylus. Dirty records not only sound bad, but they also exacerbate stylus wear and contaminate your turntable – spreading the muck across your precious vinyl collection. What most people don’t realise, … Read More
Best Powered Speakers for Turntable Enthusiasts
A high-quality amplifier and speaker combination might be the holy grail of audiophile sound quality, but it’s impossible to deny the convince of self-powered speakers. Powered (or ‘active’ speakers as they’re also known) benefit from plug-and-play convenience and also take away the hard work of matching the right amplifier to a suitable set of passive speakers. For those who just … Read More
Vinyl Pursuit – Used Record Shopping without the Nasty Surprises?
Buying used vinyl records online is fraught with potential problems; from inaccurate condition grading to the hassle of cleaning each record when it arrives, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Vinyl Pursuit, a new service based in Canada, is on a mission to change that with its new premium online used record store. Unlike most used vinyl purchased online, … Read More
Ten Things I Would Tell My Younger Record Collecting Self
Whatever we do in life, we never stop learning. Whether it’s through the school of hard-knocks or by following family, teachers and mentors, we never stop learning. Record collecting is no different. But what if you could go back in time. What would you do differently, and why? Here are the ten things I would tell my younger record collecting … Read More
New GrooveGuard Record Sleeves Review – MoFi Killer?
GrooveWasher have a solid reputation for producing extremely effective record cleaning products, but do their new record sleeves live up to expectations? I’ve been using GrooveWasher recording cleaning fluid (both G2 and G3 formulas) as my go-to formula for many years now. Not only do I find their products to be among the most effective we’ve tested, but they’re also … Read More
VinylBox Subscription Review – An Eclectic Service for Budding Record Enthusiasts
Vinyl record subscription services continue to grow in popularity. They’re a fantastic way to grow your collection, discover new music, and broaden your musical horizon. At Sound Matters, we’ve reviewed a wide range of vinyl record subscription services available in North America, the UK, and the EU. Each service offers a unique approach, with some focusing on specific genres and … Read More
Festive Giveaway 2021: Win an AudioQuest Record Brush + Booze & Vinyl Book
As we head into the final few weeks of the year, we’re bringing back our competition series to help spread a little joy around the festive season. We’re giving away two items from our holiday gift guide: The improved AudioQuest Carbon Record Brush Plus: a copy of Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks AudioQuest … Read More
How to Clean Old Vinyl Records – Top Tips: Bring Your Collection Back to Life
So you’ve hit the record store and come back with a hoard of classic old vinyl records. ….Or, perhaps you’ve inherited or recently received a box of records and you’re excited to dive in. You flick through the collection, select a record, and gently place it on your turntable. As the stylus lowers and makes contact with the groove, you’re … Read More
Nine Classic Album Covers and What Makes them Great
For any vinyl collector, a considerable part of the appeal and experience is the artwork. In many cases, album covers are classic art pieces in their own right and a significant contributor to pop culture. Countless classic album covers are instantly recognizable; they transcend generational boundaries and form part of our collective identity as a society. In some case, they … Read More
Pro-Ject VC-E Review – Is it as good as the bigger VC-S2 ALU
Does the VC-E compact record cleaning machine from Pro-Ject match up to its bigger brother, the VC-S2 ALU? Sound Matters put the device through its paces. When Pro-Ject upgraded its popular vacuum record cleaning machines with shiny new aluminum chassis, we quickly investigated the new VC-S2 ALU. As a direct replacement for Pro-Ject’s flagship VC-S, the new VC-S2 ALU brought … Read More
