As we progress further into the digital age, more of the devices we use on a day-to-day basis become interconnected. This process is often referred to as the “Internet of Things” or IoT for short. IoT affects a multitude of spaces, including infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and more. But perhaps the most obvious area is home electronics. As time goes on, … Read More
Cyber Clean Vinyl Phono Care Review
When it comes to vinyl record cleaning, choosing the right product for you can seem daunting. I’ve covered a wide range of the available options through this website, ranging from the conventional to downright bizarre. By this point, it’s not very often I come across a method that’s new to me, which is ultimately why a product like Cyber Clean … Read More
My Upcycled Vinyl Record Storage Unit
Record storage solutions is a popular topic across the vinyl community. We’ve covered best practice storage in the past, and we’ve also covered the ubiquitous, and numerous solutions available through IKEA, but what if you’re after something a little more bespoke? The IKEA route is a great affordable way to get started with record storage – I owned their NORNÄS … Read More
Five Classic Album & Beer Pairings
I like vinyl records, and I like beer. Therefore, what could be better than appropriately paired frothy beverages with your favorite classic albums on wax. So grab a cold one, pop on your favorite album, and turn up the volume to five classic discs with added buzz. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead The Smiths are synonymous with Manchester, … Read More
Vinyl’s Imperfections Improve the Listening Experience
It is the prerogative of each generation preceding the next to claim that their generation’s music was better. Or at least that’s how each generation typically feels… We all get there eventually; at first you’re checking out what’s new on the block musically every day, then it’s every week – or even every month. Before you know it, you haven’t … Read More
GrooveWasher SC1 Stylus Cleaning Kit Review
As the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” These words will almost certainly … Read More
Does 180g Vinyl Sound Better?
Most vintage vinyl records measure somewhere between 120 – 150g, and or many years, these specifications seemed to work just fine. In more recent years, however, we’re commonly sold much heavier new pressings, often labeled as “Audiophile Quality 180g”. So does 180g vinyl really make any difference to the overall listening experience? Or is it all a great swindle set … Read More
GrooveWasher G2 Vinyl Record Cleaner Review
Choosing the right record cleaning system is important but often confounding. After all, the internet is brimming with countless suggestions and methods — many of which are dubious at best. In many cases, there’s almost a pseudoscience to cleaning vinyl records, with some approaches verging on the bizarre (wood glue springs to mind). At Sound Matters, we’ve covered plenty of … Read More
Removing Record Static with 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. The problem is most acute in dry climates when the humidity is low; this is because the surface moisture on … Read More
How to Clean Vinyl Records by Hand
In an ideal world, we’d all be able to clean vinyl records with a fancy, purpose-built device, such as a vinyl vacuum system or an ultrasonic cleaning setup. Unfortunately, however, many of these advanced cleaning methods are either cost prohibitive or impractical for the average vinyl record collector. Consequently, many of us must settle for good old fashioned hand cleaning. … Read More