A VINYL RECORD WEBSITE FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

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and experience from your vinyl records.

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Sound Matters: Your Online Vinyl Record Magazine

Cut Through The Jargon. Spin More Records.

Hey! I’m Marc from Sound Matters (that’s me holding the copy of Aladdin Sane at my local record store.
 
Welcome to the Sound Matters community where all about regaining a more authentic music experience. We believe in the vinyl format as the best way to own music and experience music. Audiences are more invested in music when they own it physically, and this ultimately leads to a more enriched music culture.
 
After completing a BSc Hons degree in Music Technology and spending the best part of ten years working for the audio brand Shure, I went full time sharing my experience and expertise to help vinyl enthusiasts and the wider music community get the most from their vinyl records and listening experience.
 
Subscribe to and enjoy the best tips tricks and features to enhance your love of music – especially on vinyl.
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HOW CAN WE HELP?

Record Cleaning GuidesDirty Records Spoil the Vibe!
Clean Records Sound Better!
The best record cleaning advice
Record Storage GuidesProtect Your Investment
Look After Your Records
Store them safely
Getting Started with VinylStart spinning records today!
Vinyl Guides for Beginners
Start your new vinyl hobby
Vinyl Gear Buyer GuidesThe best sound at any budget
Make an informed choice
Choose the right HiFi gear for you
Product ReviewsGear under the spotlight
Trusted Reviews
Life's too short for lousy gear!
Vinyl Record MerchBe a part of the analog revolution
Listen in Style
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What our subscribers say:

"This is the BEST LP-care website. . .Bar-none! Thank you Sound Matters!"
Will

"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

"I can’t believe this blog actually reads my mind!

I tried to research humidity and record storage many times (I live in a really wet region) and didn’t find any real help. You guys are always the best."

Carlo

AS SEEN IN...

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Far from being yesterday's fading, forgotten format, vinyl records have survived and flourished as the music medium of choice for not only baby-boomers, but all ages. Every record a collector acquires comes with a story of its own, and recent events prompted many vinylholics, including Graham Sharpe, to look more closely at their reasons for collecting, take stock of existing collections and rediscover old favourites.

"Quite simply, they are desirable items - beautiful and artistic.
The great tradition of creative and artistic expression through the vinyl medium continues, and complements the digital age."

Marc Henshall - Sound Matters
October 31, 2024

Gift Ideas For Vinyl Lovers & Record Collectors 2024

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October 31, 2024

Record Cleaning Machines vs Cleaning Records by Hand

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October 17, 2024

10 Questions About Vinyl Records Beginners Are Too Afraid to Ask

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October 14, 2024

Fixing Annoying Undersized Record Spindle Holes

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October 10, 2024

Rega Planar 2/Nd3 Review – Sweet Spot Affordable Turntable?

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OUR LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Create a fun themed record display with Twelve Inch record display systems. No frames required! If you’ve got a favourite band or album, it can be a lot of fun in your listening space to pick up a spare copy just for display. What would you create? Use my code SOUNDMATTERS10 at the link in the comments and get creative in your space! https://twelve-inch.com/
Creative Vinyl Display Ideas: Create Themes with Twelve Inch (No Frames!) #recordcollector #vinyl
Angels Horn H019 all-in-one record player review. This record player/turntable has built-in speakers and Bluetooth input connectivity. All-in-one record players have a bad reputation for sound quality and often even build quality. Can this thing sound better than, say, a Crosley Cruiser suitcase record player? Product Links AAL=Amazon Affiliate Link: Angels Horn H019 (AAL): https://geni.us/angelshorn-h019 _________________________________________________________________ Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords #turntable #recordplayer
Angels Horn H019 - All-In-One Record Player That Actually Sounds Good?
There's no shortage of snobbery in the record collecting hobby, which can leave some newcomers afraid to ask what they might see as a "silly question". But you know what!? There are no silly questions. In a bid to break down some of the elitism and continue to make this hobby viable into the future, let's open the conversation on common questions about vinyl and record collecting that new enthusiasts are too afraid to ask. Product Links AAL=Amazon Affiliate Link: Fluance RT81+ (AAL): https://geni.us/fluancert81 Fluance RT82: (AAL): https://amzn.to/4dOKEHG _________________________________________________________________ Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords #vinylobsessed #vinylrevival
10 Questions About Vinyl Records Beginners Are Too Afraid to Ask
Can Rega's new Nd3 moving magnet phono cartridge elevate the Planar 2 to new heights? The Planar 2 is a stepping-stone option between Rega's affordable Planar 1 and its multi-award-winning Planar 3. The new Nd3 moving magnet cartridge takes some inspiration from moving coil designs, bringing some of the sound characteristics with it along the way. Product Links AAL=Amazon Affiliate Link: Rega Planar 2: https://geni.us/planar-2 Tracking force gauge: https://geni.us/trackingforceguage _________________________________________________________________ Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords #turntable #rega
Rega Planar 2 Review: Fitted with the Nd3 Cartridge - Sweet-spot Affordable Turntable?
After watching a video by Rick Beato on "how music became worthless" it got me thinking about why owning the music you love makes all the difference as to how you value it. This may go some way to explain why young people just don't care about music anymore in quite the same way. The internet changed everything! Rick Beato "How Music Became Worthless": https://www.instagram.com/noisyrecords/reel/C9dG_SoRGEr/ Rick Beato: "Why GenZ Doesn't Care About Music": https://youtu.be/Ag4iFa6E_yY?si=9c-4VRjjU0Gsr9a9 _________________________________________________________________ Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords #genz #modernmusic #spotify
Music Doesn't Define Generations Anymore: Why the 90s was the Last Great Decade
If I were just starting out in the record collecting hobby, or perhaps I was on a very tight budget, what vinyl record accessories would I say were top priority? In this video we focus on the bare essentials every record collector should own. No luxury turntable accessories here: just the basics! Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Product Links: (AAL = Amazon Affiliate Link) _________________________________________________________________ Carbon Fiber Record Brush AAL: https://geni.us/audio-quest-brush GrooveWasher Intro Kit AAL: https://geni.us/groovewasher-intro-kit GrooveWasher Discount (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://www.groovewasher.com/ Stylus Cleaning Kit AAL: https://geni.us/stylus-cleaning-kit VSS "Rice Paper" Inner Sleeves: https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/products/is3-12?bg_ref=nJmCf5DZTq VSS Sleeves (Inner & Outer): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords
Top 5 MUST OWN Vinyl Record Accessories - Just the Basics: No Luxuries!
Record cleaning machines are great, but not everyone can afford one. Is it really possible to get great record cleaning result purely by hand? In this video I show you the method I used to get squeaky clean vinyl without a vacuum record cleaning machine or ultrasonic. Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Product Links: (AAL = Amazon Affiliate Link) _________________________________________________________________ Carbon Fiber Record Brush AAL: https://geni.us/audio-quest-brush GrooveWasher Record Cleaning Kits (Code SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off): https://www.groovewasher.com/ Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords
How to Clean Vinyl Records by Hand (Pro Results without a Cleaning Machine)
As the seasons change, so does our taste for music. We naturally adjust the type of music we choose as the seasons change. In this video, let's put the spotlight on the perfect albums for autumn/fall. Share your suggestions in the comments. My picks: John Frusciante - Curtains Neil Young - After the Gold Rush Lindsey Buckingham - Under the Skin The Moody Blues - Days of Future Past Counting Crows - August & Everything After Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords #autumn #autumnmusic
Albums for Autumn: Cozy Records for Fall - Share Your Suggestions
John Peel’s famous surface noise quote is held up as capturing perfectly the sentiment behind vinyl’s unlikely revival in the digital age. Digital music production and playback has allowed us to clean up the noise of analog tape and production techniques. But if perfection is what we’ve been striving for, why is a format with inherent surface noise selling at a 30-year high? Join Sound Matters Patreon for exclusive content each month: https://www.patreon.com/soundmatters Partner/Sponsor Discounts: _________________________________________________________________ GrooveWasher (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://www.groovewasher.com/ Twelve Inch (Use code: SOUNDMATTERS10 for 10% Off) https://twelve-inch.com/ Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS) sleeves: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://vinylstoragesolutions.ca/soundmatters Soundeck Dampening Products (Use code SOUNDMATTERS10): https://soundeck.bigcartel.com Vinyl Pursuit - Vintage Vinyl Online: (Use code SOUNDMATTERS15): https://vinylpursuit.com/ #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylrecords
Surface Noise. How Vinyl Speaks to Our Desire for Authenticity
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The Ultimate Clean Sound Solution

GrooveWasher make world-class record cleaning solutions to suit all levels and budgets. GrooveWasher is the audiophile’s choice for fine grooming before each play. It is also effective for heavy cleaning off the turntable. ​
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Vinyl on Your Wall

Twelve Inch products allow you to create a stunning and personal record gallery on the wall without any frames or visible parts. Their mission is to nurture and grow the love for vinyl records, by providing a flexible and elegant way to create amazing record galleries in the home.​
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Vintage Vinyl without the Hassle

Unlike most used record stores and Discogs purchases, all the records you buy from vinylpursuit.com are restored using an ultrasonic record cleaning machine before shipping to you in brand-new premium inner and outer sleeves.​