PRODUCT REVIEWS

Under The Spotlight With Sound Matters

Trusted Reviews: Make An Informed Decision

Life is too short for lousy gear and a poor listening experience.

We review the latest products and services for vinyl enthusiasts so you can make an informed choice.

We take the hassle out of choosing your next purchase so you can get back to spinning records. 

Just wanted to say thanks for the valuable service you provide to the vinyl community. After almost 20 years, I pulled my vinyl from storage, purchased a new turntable and connected to my soundbar (also a new purchase). I found your site and use you exclusively for all my vinyl needs, purchased a record cleaner system from GrooveWasher and cork turntable mat based on your articles and recommendations. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Peter
Sound Matters Subscriber

The Latest Product Reviews

Marc Henshall

Vinyl Wings: Record Subscription Review

Every record tells a story. It could be the personal experience of each musician, a hidden message behind the cover art, or the unique production and build-up that leads to a piece of music on wax. In any case, like a snapshot in time, every record ever made is a moment captured for all future generations to enjoy. Record subscription

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Marc Henshall

Pro-Ject X1 Turntable Review

For nearly 30 years, Pro-Ject has exemplified what it takes to design audiophile-quality turntables that don’t break the bank. The X1 model is the most recent incarnation of the design that started it all, the Pro-Ject 1. In the new X1, Pro-Ject has a turntable design embodying all the core principles that continue to drive the company to this day.

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Marc Henshall

Wax & Stamp Record Subscription Review

One of my key motivators for starting Sound Matters was the loss of experience and musical discovery that happens when you surrender all music ownership to the internet. The abundance of choice online is amazing, and it’s never been easier or cheaper to access more music than a person can consume in a lifetime. The trouble is, the experience just

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Marc Henshall

Ortofon 2M Red vs 2M Blue – Is it worth the upgrade?

The 2M series from Ortofon has, for many, become the de facto cartridge and styli range for the vinyl revival. The ubiquitous 2M Red, in particular, has rightly earnt a reputation as one of the best-sounding affordable cartridges on the market at just $99 or £95. Sound-wise, the performance is undoubtedly impressive across the 2M range, which is semi-modular to

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Marc Henshall

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo Review

The Debut Carbon we all know and love, with just a little extra class and sophistication. What’s not to like? We explore the latest addition to Pro-Ject’s prominent entry-level turntable range. The Debut Carbon DC is admired across the vinyl community as a minimalist deck that nails all the essentials. For many, it still represents the standard in what it

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Marc Henshall

Technics SL1500C Review

When I needed a realistically priced utility deck for my new studio office, I turned to the Technics SL1500C. Designed to sit alongside the ubiquitous SL1200 models, the 1500C sports all the performance you’d expect from Technics with a stripped-down feature-set and user-friendly design. The Technics SL1200 series is considered a classic across the DJ circuit as a long-running success

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Marc Henshall

Groovalo Ethical Record Subscription Review

Inspired by the concept of a more sustainable future, Groovalo are seeking more renewable sources of new music. In doing so, they hope to support artists while rewarding fans with outstanding music for many years to come. As vinyl sales look set for another record-breaking year, it’s perhaps no surprise to see the popularity of record subscription services traverse a

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Marc Henshall

On Test: Klipsch RP-500M Speakers Powered by the Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2

This Klipsch Speaker and Pro-Ject Amp Combo is a Winning Combination When I was in the market for a new, compact Hi-Fi setup for my office and music room, I turned to the Klipsch RP-500M bookshelf speakers hooked up to a Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2 integrated amplifier. The world of vinyl can be an expensive game with endless upgrade opportunities

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Marc Henshall

GrooveWasher Mondo Record & Stylus Care System Review

Our favorite manual record cleaner gets an update with the release of their top-of-the-line record cleaning bundle.  Regular readers will know why we’ve recommended GrooveWasher as our go-to manual record cleaning solution for over four years now. Quite frankly, in our opinion, it’s the best product on the market in this category. GrooveWasher G2 cleaning fluid is safe, highly effective,

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Marc Henshall

On Test: New, Stronger GrooveWasher G3 Record Cleaning Fluid

The latest record cleaning formula from GrooveWasher gets down to work faster than their flagship G2 offering. I’ve used GrooveWasher’s G2 as my main record cleaning solution for many years now.  The reason? It works.  It’s the perfect turntable companion and the best record cleaning fluid I’ve encountered for day-to-day use. The team at GrooveWasher are anything if dedicated. The

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Marc Henshall

Vinyl Me Please Review: VMP Essentials – Worth It?

VMP (Vinyl Me, Please) is one of the world’s most established record clubs. Their special releases and collaborative approach have earned them a reputation for producing some of the most desirable pressings in the industry.  To learn more about what makes VMP such a desirable record club, we delve into their latest Essentials Record of the Month release. After which,

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Marc Henshall

The Ultimate LED Turntable Light? UBERLIGHT FLEX Review

All too often, USB LED lights for the turntable market are small, flimsy, and ultimately disappointing. Could this product from Reliable Corporation change all that? Up until now, my overall experience of USB gooseneck lights has been a fairly lackluster affair; most are pretty poorly made and represent more of a gimmick than a serious desk light. So naturally, I

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