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
Record Player Sounds Distorted? Here’s How to Fix It
When vinyl records are at their best, I wholeheartedly believe it’s the best way to enjoy music. As with any physical media, though, there are several reasons why they might not perform at their best. If your record player or turntable sounds distorted, there’s a good chance the reason falls into one of the following categories on this page. So … Read More
Parts of a Record Player – Turntable Anatomy Explained
Record players and turntables are outstanding feats of engineering. I hear all the time from new vinyl collectors about how amazing they find the playback process of a vinyl record. It’s little wonder folks find the mechanics of how a record player works so fascinating. After all, it’s a miracle the process even works at all! In the following guide, … Read More
Turntable Phono Preamps Explained – Do You Need One?
If you’re new to the world of vinyl records, it may surprise you to learn that you can’t simply plug your turntable into most sound systems, just as you might do with any other piece of audio equipment. (Or at least not without a phono preamp). The good news is, you might already own one… In this article, you will … Read More
Speaker Placement Best Practice for Optimal Sound Quality
For the best possible sound quality, the location of your audio equipment matters. Even the most affordable set of speakers will benefit from proper speaker placement. You’d be surprised just how much you can improve the performance of the most humble setup by getting your speakers positioned just right. So before you reach for your wallet and consider upgrading your … Read More
How to Position Your Turntable
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
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
Conical Vs Elliptical Stylus For Your Turntable
When selecting a cartridge for your turntable, you will undoubtedly come across some new terminology if you’re new to the world of vinyl records. The Hi-Fi world is full of technical jargon, and vinyl is certainly no exception. The bottom line here is there are many different stylus shapes. The stylus (sometimes referred to as the needle) is the little … Read More
How to Fit a Cartridge on a Headshell
There are many reasons why you might want to replace the cartridge on your turntable tonearm. You could be looking to upgrade the performance and sound quality, or you might be looking to play older mono records or even vintage 78s. In some cases, you might purchase a turntable used and simply need to fit a new cartridge of your … Read More
How to Clean Your Turntable Stylus – Without Causing Damage
Your record player or turntables’ needle (better know as the stylus) is the first point in the audio signal chain. It is the instrument responsible for directly tracking your record and beginning the process of transforming an otherwise useless groove into sweet, sweet music. For it to perform at its best, you need to keep it clean. If you allow … Read More
