Vibration and resonance are the enemies of many vinyl enthusiasts. At best, it clouds the audio output, hindering your listening enjoyment. Worse still, it can disturb your stylus enough to knock it straight out of the groove during playback. There are many ways to guard your turntable against vibrations and resonance, from choosing the right turntable position to upgrading your … Read More
Vinyl lover gifts guaranteed to make their day! It’s that time of year again; the temperature is dropping, the nights are drawing in, and that nagging question of what to buy friends and family for the big day is becoming more significant with each passing week. If you’re buying for the vinyl record enthusiast, you’ve come to the right place. … Read More
At first, changing a record mat can seem like a mere aesthetic upgrade. After all, can the material between your records and the turntable platter really make a difference to the sound? The truth is, everything affects the sound when it comes to a physical format like vinyl! Choosing the right turntable mat can make a significant difference to the performance of … Read More
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
Pro-Ject recently announced the launch of their upgraded MaiA integrated amplifier. The new MaiA S3 is said to boast several upgrades on the original design to deliver flexibility and audiophile-quality sound in a compact design. The fundamental question is: can the S3 punch above its weight? Pro-Ject first released the MaiA amplifier in 2014. The name stands for “My Audiophile … Read More
Buying a vintage turntable can offer many advantages over shiny new decks fresh off the production line. First and foremost, going vintage can make obtaining a higher-quality turntable more affordable. The potential to grab a bargain will undoubtedly appeal to many record collectors, as, let’s face it, HiFi audio and record collecting isn’t exactly the cheapest of hobbies. When choosing … Read More
In the age of convenience, setting up a turntable can seem like hard work compared with the convenience of streaming. The good news is, it’s worth it. Vinyl is arguably the best, most engaging way to experience music. Even better, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Gone are the days where built-in preamps sound terrible, and while separate audio components … Read More
Owning physical copies of your favorite albums is the best way to experience music. They’re collectible, tactile, and in many cases, beautiful works of art. Best of all, with the right recording, mastering, and production, they sound fantastic. Unlike streaming services, of course, records take up space. As your collection grows, you’ll need to find more spaces in your home … Read More
Back in 2020, Hungarian innovators HEXMAT turned the platter mat market on its head with the truly unique Yellow Bird record isolator. The new Eclipse model promises further improvements on the initial concept. Can it deliver? Sound Matters put the HEXMAT Eclipse through its paces. Platter mats are often overlooked in the turntable accessory market. After all, why would a … Read More
In a push to improve the quality and sustainability of their products, Sound Matters partners Twelve Inch have switched their popular frameless record display systems from plastic to Bamboo. As a vinyl enthusiast and a fan of natural materials to boot, the new product sounds ideal on paper. Sound Matters dig deeper to see how the new design measures up. … Read More