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. I … Read More
Sound Matters test Pro-Jects new and improved flagship vacuum-powered record cleaning machine: Keeping your vinyl records clean is essential if you want them to sound great for a lifetime and beyond. For this reason, vinyl record cleaning remains one of the most-read topics on Sound Matters. For those on a tight budget, you can achieve great results cleaning records by … Read More
Canadian-based company, Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) made a big impact on the vinyl community earlier this year when their innovative take on the humble outer record sleeve began flying off the shelves. Company founder, Mike Sarazin set out to improve on existing designs by incorporating 100% North American materials, and by introducing an innovative dual pocket design. (Check out our … Read More
We’ve all got those records, haven’t we? Whether we accidentally put the scratch there ourselves, or we were unlucky enough to purchase a used VG (very good) copy from a reseller that was less than honest – these records suck! They’re the otherwise perfectly listenable pieces of wax if it wasn’t for that one pesky scratch. They’re the records we’ve … Read More
The humble vinyl record sleeve: a simple, but essential accessory for any record collector. For a long time, we’ve recommended polyethylene inner sleeves, and polypropylene outer sleeves as the best way to protect and store your vinyl records. But what if they could be improved? Enter Mike Sarazin, the man behind Canadian-based startup, Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS). By incorporating 100% … Read More
Guest Article from Chris Scalise of Big Fudge: Vinyl records are the perfect way to experience the nuance and detail of your favorite artists and albums. But despite vinyl’s somewhat surprising resurgence in the digital age, the way we look after and maintain our records to ensure many years of listening pleasure hasn’t really changed at all. When done right, … Read More
There are many reasons to love vinyl records. After all, when at their best, they sound great, they look beautiful, and they truly add something extra to the whole listening experience. However, while the resurgence in consumer interest for vinyl records is undoubtedly something to celebrate, there is a growing concern within the vinyl community surrounding quality control. In a … Read More
Besides the great sounds, ritual, and process, a huge part of vinyl’s lasting appeal is undoubtedly the aesthetic. Enthusiasts hail the large format artwork and the sense of satisfaction that comes with physically owning the music you love as just part of the reason why vinyl record sales continue to grow year-on-year. Many album covers are pieces of art in … Read More
Keeping your vinyl records clean is one of the most important aspects of collecting music on wax. It not only ensures that your records will sound great, but it also affects how long they will last – and, how long your stylus will last. Like any process in life, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Below is a … Read More
There is much debate among the vinyl community around the use of alcohol to clean vinyl records. Isopropyl alcohol, in particular, is popular with many collectors as a key ingredient in homemade record cleaning solutions. But is it safe? Some collectors swear by it, others warn of potential hazards. To help shed some light on the topic, we’ve done a … Read More