How Long Will a Record Stylus Last?

Marc HenshallTech Talk, Vinyl 10119 Comments

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

Off Center Records: How to Spot this Pressing Error & Can You Fix It?

Marc HenshallCulture & Industry, Vinyl 1015 Comments

Off-center records are all too common and sometimes tricky to spot. It’s a vinyl pressing error and there’s a good chance you’ve got some off-center records lurking in your collection.  Below, we explain what an off-center record is, how to spot one visually, and how it affects sound quality. Lastly, we’ll explain what you can do to correct the problem. … Read More

How to Balance a Tonearm & Set Turntable Tracking Force

Marc HenshallNew to Vinyl, Vinyl 1019 Comments

Adjusting your tonearm tracking force is one of the most important aspects of setting up your turntable. You need to apply the correct amount of downward pressure so the stylus can accurately track your records. Failing to set this correctly can result in poor sound quality, or worse, damaged records.  If you’ve just purchased a turntable, there’s a good chance … Read More

How to Grade Vinyl Records – Full Guide

Marc HenshallVinyl 10114 Comments

Whether you’re selling off some of your collection or hunting for your next holy grail vinyl purchase, understanding how used records are graded is fundamental. It’s important as a seller, as you want to provide an honest and fair assessment of what you’re selling, but it’s also important for the customer as a key indicator of quality. This is particularly … Read More

Ten Common Vinyl Record Myths Uncovered

Marc HenshallTech Talk, Vinyl 1014 Comments

The world of vinyl records is shrouded in many myths and untruths that continue to trigger debate and controversy. Particularly when considering the mastering and production process, there’s a lot to cover. To uncover the truth behind an array of common vinyl record myths, we discreetly interviewed a range of mastering engineer who will remain anonymous – lest we unleash … Read More

What is Half Speed Mastering? – Why It Sounds Better

Marc HenshallTech Talk, Vinyl 10113 Comments

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. What Is Half Speed Mastering? To understand what the term “half-speed mastering” means, we … Read More

Does 180g Vinyl Sound Better?

Marc HenshallTech Talk, Vinyl 10115 Comments

Most vintage vinyl records measure somewhere between 120-150g, and for 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 sound better or make any difference to the overall listening experience? Or is it all a great swindle set … Read More

How Are Vinyl Records Made?

Marc HenshallTech Talk, Vinyl 1019 Comments

Vinyl records have a tactile quality that simply cannot be replicated in the digital realm, and for many – including myself – this tangible aspect makes up a large portion of the overall appeal. Unlike a CD – which, while a remarkable piece of technology in its own right, can hardly be called charming – a well-made vinyl record is … Read More

Record Player Sounds Distorted? Here’s How to Fix It

Marc HenshallNew to Vinyl, Vinyl 1012 Comments

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

Marc HenshallNew to Vinyl, Vinyl 1011 Comment

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