Vinyl records are the greatest format for album artwork, as the larger space compared with CDs or a thumbnail image provides the perfect canvas for artistic expression. So What Makes a Great Album Cover? To find out more, I spoke to Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz. They are revered for their reputation as outstanding album cover designers and their contributions … Read More
Not Everything is on Spotify – Owning Your Music Matters
Firstly, I’ll be honest, vinyl is my preferred music format, but I do own a subscription to the streaming platform Tidal. In my opinion, vinyl is the best way to experience music, but there is a time and a place for digital streaming services. I mean, I can’t exactly take my vinyl with me on the train, and let’s be honest, there … Read More
Classic Albums: The Doors – The Doors
The Doors debut album is a true classic rock album that pushed boundaries, opened minds and explored universal topics of self-exploration that make it as relevant today as the day it was released. To say The Doors is a classic album would be a severe understatement. Iconic and era-defining are better words to describe an album at the center of … Read More
Conical Vs Elliptical Stylus For Your Turntable
When selecting a cartridge for your turntable, you will undoubtedly come across some new terminology if you’re new to the world of vinyl records. The Hi-Fi world is full of technical jargon, and vinyl is certainly no exception. The bottom line here is there are many different stylus shapes. The stylus (sometimes referred to as the needle) is the little … Read More
VMP Classics Subscription Review
A VMP Classics subscription is the perfect way to explore a new or existing love for soul, blues, and jazz. Having spent recent years acquiring a broad range of classic albums by Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, and Coleman Hawkins, Sound Matters review the latest from VMP Classics. For music exploration, nothing quite beats a record subscription service. The … Read More
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 … Read More
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, … Read More
Ortofon 2M Mono Review – Does a Mono Phono Cartridge Sound Better?
For those who prefer to watch rather than read, there is a video overview at the bottom of this post. I’m a fan of the Ortofon 2M range of cartridges; they provide an affordable entry point to audiophile quality with a clear upgrade path for those seeking a modular approach to signal path improvements. Arguably, your cartridge is the most … Read More
Spring Giveaway: Win a GrooveWasher Record Cleaning Kit & Twelve Inch Vinyl Wall Displays
We’ve teamed up with our partners GrooveWasher and Twelve Inch to give you a chance of winning a Mondo Record Cleaning Kit and two Twelve Inch magnetic vinyl wall displays. Here’s a summary of both products that could be heading directly to your listening space very soon! GrooveWasher Mondo The Mondo bundle is GrooveWasher’s top-of-the-line care package and comes complete … Read More
Record Shopping on Discogs with Sound Matters
It recently struck me that I spend a lot of time writing and talking about collecting and looking after vinyl records, but rarely do I ever share my experiences more directly. Particularly given the past year’s events, it’s important to converse with others as a global music and vinyl fanatics community. Music is such a huge part of what makes … Read More