The Tube Box DS2 promises audiophile phono stage credentials with added tube “warmth” and versatility to suit a wide range of cartridges. Does it deliver the musicality and character vacuum tubes are known for? Sound Matters compare the performance of a built-in phono preamp to the Tube Box DS2 as a component upgrade. Impressive Versatility Sound quality aside, the Tube … Read More
Can You Leave a Record on the Turntable? – Bad Idea?
When spinning your favorite records of an evening, you might be tempted at the end of the night to simply close the lid (if your turntable has one) rather than return the record to its sleeve. So can you leave a record on the turntable for an extended period? Today, I’ll explain why that’s not such a great idea… OK, … Read More
Best Record Cleaning Machines
If you’re the proud owner of a large vinyl record collection, or you want to step up your record cleaning game, a record cleaning machine is one of the best investments you can make. Yes, they require some investment up-front, but in the name of priceless record preservation and the pursuit of audio nirvana, they are worth every penny. There … Read More
What is an LP vs an EP – Differences & Examples
The terms LP and EP are often used without thinking about their origin, and in our digital age, both are frequently misunderstood. Like many acronyms in the music industry, their meaning has a historical background but continues to evolve. Today, you’ll learn what an EP is, where the term comes from, how it differs from an LP, and what the … Read More
LP vs Vinyl: Are LP and Vinyl the Same Thing?
The world of vinyl and record collecting is full of jargon and regularly used terms that are often confusing for those just starting out on their record-collecting journey. Lots of terms are interchangeable or there are multiple words used to mean the same thing. Confusing, right? LP vs Vinyl is one of the most common examples… So is an “LP” … Read More
Pro-Ject VC-S3 Review – Better than the Compact Edition?
Similarly to the new Pro-Ject VC-E2, the larger VC-S3 promises several upgrades. But does the larger model have the edge over its more compact counterpart? Is it better at cleaning vinyl records? Pro-Ject’s flagship vacuum record cleaning machine has undergone several upgrades over the years, moving from a simple MDF construction to the much more durable aluminum chassis we know … Read More
AI-Generated Music: Do We REALLY Want This?
No matter where you live in the world and regardless of your native tongue, one single language unites humanity: music. In the words of the late American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Without even needing to understand the words being sung, music has the power to move us emotionally. It’s part of what separates … Read More
Pro-Ject VC-E2 Review – A Better Design?
The original Pro-Ject VC-E allowed record collectors with limited space to enjoy the benefits of owning a vacuum record cleaning machine. Living in a home where space comes at a premium, the VC-E was a breath of fresh air as I’d long been eyeing up how I could fit the original larger design (or an Okki Nokki equivalent) somewhere in … Read More
Significantly Different Mono/Stereo Mixes on Records
During the infancy of stereo – particularly in the mid to late 60s – albums were mixed in mono and stereo, respectively. In many cases, the mono version was the main mix, with the stereo version being somewhat of an afterthought. Stereo was new, and engineers took the opportunity to experiment with spacial separation. In mild cases, the difference between … Read More