When setting up a HiFi system, every detail counts. Where you place your turntable in relation to the rest of your audio system is particularly important, as we’re dealing with a physical playback mechanism. Everything that comes into contact with your turntable or causes resonance will affect how the record tracks, and in turn, how your records sound. Today, we’ll … Read More
Classic Albums: Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Fleetwood Mac’s ubiquitous Rumours is the classic album that almost never happened. The story behind one of the biggest selling albums of all time is filled with tales of love, despair, anger, drugs, and revenge. The troubled relationships playing out during the album recording are well-known and arguably play a big part in making this such a timeless album. What’s … Read More
Exploring Jazz, Soul and Blues with VMP Classics
Like many music fans, I started my earlier personal music journey with a relatively fixed idea of what I did and didn’t like. I was raised (mostly) on 60s and 70s rock, and this undoubtedly shaped my early adolescent music choices. In our formative years, it’s easy to fall into a music scene and feel fixed within it. After all, … Read More
How to Remove Static from Vinyl Records Using the Milty Zerostat
For vinyl collectors, statically charged records are a persistent thorn in the side. When a vinyl record becomes statically charged, it acts like a magnet for any dust lurking near its vicinity, making it near-impossible to keep the record clean. Watch our video below or a full demonstration or continue reading to learn more. The problem is most acute in … Read More
Holy Grail Re-Issues: De-Loused in the Comatorium
For many, The Mars Volta ‘De-loused in the Comatorium’ is a holy grail album to bag on vinyl. So as VMP (Vinyl Me, Please) make this modern prog-rock classic their Essentials Record of the Month for July, we delve into this monstrously epic display of music virtuosity to find out why it’s still sought after nearly 20 years later. De-Loused … Read More
Ortofon 2M Red vs 2M Blue – Is it worth the upgrade?
The 2M series from Ortofon has, for many, become the de facto cartridge and styli range for the vinyl revival. The ubiquitous 2M Red, in particular, has rightly earnt a reputation as one of the best-sounding affordable cartridges on the market at just $99 or £95. Sound-wise, the performance is undoubtedly impressive across the 2M range, which is semi-modular to … Read More
Synthizer Bamboo Vinyl Record Holder Review
If you’re anything like me, your vinyl record collection is an ever-expanding beast. Once you’re hit with the vinyl bug, there’s no satisfying that itch to buy more records as you set out on a lifetime journey of musical discovery. The bigger your collection gets, the more creative you have to get with storage. A record crate becomes a record … Read More
How to Replace a Turntable Cartridge
There are several reasons you might want to replace your phono cartridge. You could be upgrading the stock model shipped with your turntable, or you might be looking to replace an older model on a used deck. Either way, it’s important you take care to install your new cartridge with care and attention to detail. As we always say at … Read More
What Makes a Great Album Cover? With Spencer Drate & Judith Salavetz
Vinyl records are the greatest format for album artwork, as the larger space compared with CDs or a thumbnail image provides the perfect canvas for artistic expression. So What Makes a Great Album Cover? To find out more, I spoke to Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz. They are revered for their reputation as outstanding album cover designers and their contributions … Read More
Not Everything is on Spotify – Owning Your Music Matters
Firstly, I’ll be honest, vinyl is my preferred music format, but I do own a subscription to the streaming platform Tidal. In my opinion, vinyl is the best way to experience music, but there is a time and a place for digital streaming services. I mean, I can’t exactly take my vinyl with me on the train, and let’s be honest, there … Read More
