When it comes to choosing the right components for your turntable, your phono cartridge is, well, pretty important. After all, this is the device that makes direct contact with your records. In most audio systems, inputs are almost certainly more important than outputs; to put it frankly—shit in, shit out. There are two main types of phono cartridge available: moving … Read More
How NOT to clean vinyl records
Great vinyl records are clean vinyl records, that much is well understood. But with so much advice available on the internet, how can you determine which cleaning methods lead to vinyl nirvana, and which ones lead to frustration and regret? We’ve covered plenty of tried and tested cleaning methods at Sound Matters, but this article is different. This time, we’ll be … Read More
The Best Turntables & Record Players to Suit Any Budget in 2023
Enthusiasm for music on vinyl shows no sign of stalling. Sales of vinyl records continue to climb year-on-year, with revenues now out-performing CDs in what can only be described as the comeback of the century. Despite the convenience and abundance of digital streaming, it can never replace the joy of owning a physical piece of music and the full experience … Read More
Why Are Vinyl Records So Expensive? Will Prices Come Down?
Consumer demand for vinyl records continues to defy all odds in the digital age. By the end of 2022, total units sold in the US capped out at 43.5 million records (up 4.2% from 41.7 million in 2021—according to this report). Given that $30-$40 price tags are not uncommon on your average LP, it’s quite remarkable to see such sustained … Read More
Why Buy Vinyl Records? Top Five Reasons
In a world where we can access almost any piece of music at the click of a mouse or the tap of a screen, who would think that a physical format like vinyl would continue to endure? Far from being a nostalgia trip, vinyl records are now enjoyed by a wide range of ages by music fans searching for something … Read More
Vinyl Moon Review: Art & Music Unite
Record subscription services offer vinyl lovers and music fans the opportunity to discover new music and enjoy premium and exclusive record releases. I’ve trialed many record subscription services in my time running Sound Matters and seen numerous services come and go. During this time, I’ve learned one crucial thing: for a subscription service to endure, it must be unique; in … Read More
Best Budget Phono Preamps for Amazing Sound
If you’re buying your first vinyl setup, you’ll need to make sure you have a phono preamp somewhere in the signal chain. In straightforward terms, a phono preamp amplifies the signal up to a level suitable for the AUX input on your Hi-Fi receiver. Also, it will apply an equalization curve to inverse the standard frequency adjustment made during the … Read More
Best Speakers for Vinyl Records – Affordable Options in 2023
Make your records sing with the best speakers for vinyl records that won’t break the bank. The speakers are your turntable’s voice to the world. If you’re lucky enough to have a nice turntable or record player, you want to do it justice with a nice set of speakers. And while I always say the first part of the audio … Read More
Best Amplifiers for Turntables – Affordable Options in 2023
When it comes to choosing the best amplifiers for turntables, there’s a lot to consider. Your stereo amplifier is the driving force behind your Hi-Fi, and so we want to choose a system capable of complimenting the rich, warm sound of vinyl regardless of your budget. The right amplifier for you will depend greatly on your input requirements, but also … Read More
Ten of the Best Vinyl Record Subscription Services in 2023
Across the vinyl community, there is a shared appreciation for the experience of collecting and playing records. We all have an affection for the physical product and the extra dimension it brings to the music we love. As an increasing number of music fans discover the joy of vinyl, there is a growing number of vinyl record subscriptions and record … Read More
