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 Importance of Music Ownership
If you own your own home, do you not take better care of it? Do you take more pride in your surroundings, perhaps invest more money in maintaining it? If you own something, you have a stake in it. As Martin Luther King JR said, “There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society with a large segment of … Read More
Vinyl Record Types (A Brief Overview)
Vinyl records come in all different shapes sizes, and increasingly, colors. The physical medium of vinyl in all its different manifestations is part of the appeal and joy of owning music on wax. Below is a brief overview of the most common vinyl formats (including a brief introduction to 33 vs 45 RPM: LP (Long-playing) Albums Introduced in 1948, LP … Read More
Full Force Hi-Fi Cork Vinyl Slipmat Review
A cork slip mat is one of the most affordable, yet effective upgrades you can make to your turntable setup. Cork has many benefits including reduced static, better isolation from motor/belt sound, and (best of all) a tighter, more focused playback sound. In my experience, the bass frequency performance, in particular, is reinforced by the addition of a good quality … Read More
Clean Vinyl Records, According to the Folks at GrooveWasher
Great sounding vinyl records are clean vinyl records, and few know more about this topic than GrooveWasher founder, Steve Chase. We talk to Steve about his journey in building a modern record cleaning system designed to enhance the listening experience for new and veteran vinyl enthusiasts. Steve also has some expert tips for our readers to help keep your precious … Read More
Q&A: HD Vinyl – The Future of Record Manufacturing?
HD Vinyl Pioneer, Guenter Loibl talks to Sound Matters about his ambitions to revolutionize vinyl record manufacturing using lasers. The HD-Vinyl concept first caught our attention back in 2016, when Austrian-based company, Rebeat first filed the patent for a new vinyl record production process involving lasers. Naturally, it wasn’t long before the internet was awash with speculation about the new … Read More
Mutual Appreciation Society: Music, Vinyl & Craft Beer
Two of my interests I think pair extremely well are music (particularly on vinyl) and beer – especially craft beer. Nothing makes a great record listening experience even better like some flavour-packed suds to tickle the taste buds. At first glance, both of these topics could appear distant from one another; after all, what does the revival of vinyl records have … Read More
Competition: Win GrooveWasher Record Cleaning Bundle
For our latest giveaway competition, we’re pleased and partner with GrooveWasher for your chance to win two world-class record cleaning products. The lucky winner will receive the GrooveWasher Walnut Record Cleaning kit and SC1 Stylus Cleaning kit bundle worth $49.40. GrooveWasher’s specially formulated record cleaning solution is by far the most effective product for cleaning vinyl by hand that we’ve … Read More
Top Five Vinyl Record Quotes
In our increasingly digital age, there’s still a lot of love for good old-fashioned vinyl. There’s just something about the physicality of vinyl; the sound, the feel (the entire experience) that conjures up emotions in generations old and new. It’s hard to imagine the same passion for any digital format in years to come, and while we’ve seen some resurgence … Read More
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Review
Pro-Ject Audio Systems have rightfully gained a reputation in the market for manufacturing elegant turntables. Their approach is refreshingly simple, with bells and whistles removed in favour of high-quality components delivering the best possible performance at each price-point. I’ve tested the Pro-Ject Essential II before and was impressed with the performance given the relatively low price. Naturally, when the opportunity … Read More