Sound Matters offer a simple explanation of half-speed mastering as a practice while gaining some more detailed insights from experienced Mastering Engineer, Barry Grint. (Barry’s work includes award-winning artists George Ezra and Tom Walker, plus many classic projects, including Madonna, Prince, Oasis, and many more). The Basics To understand what the term “half-speed mastering” means, we must first understand the … Read More
Direct-Drive vs Belt-Drive Turntables – What’s the Difference?
When buying your first turntable, or even upgrading your current setup, there are many technical terms and details that cause some confusion for would-be vinyl enthusiasts. At Sound Matters, we present answers to many of these frequently asked questions in a way that cuts through the jargon, getting to the key points you need to know. Today, we tackle the … Read More
Why Do I Need a Phono Preamp for My Turntable?
If you’re new to the world of vinyl records, it may surprise you to learn that you cannot simply plug your turntable into most sound systems, just as you might do with any other piece of audio equipment. If you’ve ever tried plugging your turntable into the input marked as “aux” or “TAPE” on your sound system, you’ll likely notice … Read More
Ten Common Vinyl Record Myths Uncovered
The world of HiFi is shrouded in many myths and untruths that continue to trigger debate and controversy. Vinyl records, particularly when considering the mastering and production process, are certainly no exception. To uncover the truth behind an array of common vinyl mastering myths, we discreetly interviewed a mastering engineer who will remain anonymous – lest we unleash an angry … Read More
How Long Will a Record Stylus Last?
Playing vinyl records is a demanding physical process that involves your stylus traveling a great distance. (Around 1,500 feet across each side of an average LP). It’s no easy task. Your stylus will confront, dirt, dust, debris, and even scratches as it traverses miles of grooves over the course of its useable life. Not surprisingly, a stylus needs to be … Read More
How to Set Up Your Turntable
Setting up your turntable correctly is fundamental if you want to achieve the best possible sound from your vinyl records. Accuracy is key, and it’s easy to understand why when you consider the task at hand. The average LP has about 1,500 feet of groove on each side, and the groove in question is less than a hairline thick. The … 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
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
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
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