Best Powered Speakers for Turntable Enthusiasts

Marc HenshallUncategorized5 Comments

A high-quality amplifier and speaker combination might be the holy grail of audiophile sound quality, but it’s impossible to deny the convince of self-powered speakers.  Powered (or ‘active’ speakers as they’re also known) benefit from plug-and-play convenience and also take away the hard work of matching the right amplifier to a suitable set of passive speakers. For those who just … Read More

Vinyl Pursuit – Used Record Shopping without the Nasty Surprises?

Marc HenshallReviews9 Comments

Buying used vinyl records online is fraught with potential problems; from inaccurate condition grading to the hassle of cleaning each record when it arrives, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Vinyl Pursuit, a new service based in Canada, is on a mission to change that with its new premium online used record store. Unlike most used vinyl purchased online, … Read More

New GrooveGuard Record Sleeves Review – MoFi Killer?

Marc HenshallUncategorized2 Comments

GrooveWasher have a solid reputation for producing extremely effective record cleaning products, but do their new record sleeves live up to expectations?  I’ve been using GrooveWasher recording cleaning fluid (both G2 and G3 formulas) as my go-to formula for many years now.  Not only do I find their products to be among the most effective we’ve tested, but they’re also … Read More

VinylBox Subscription Review – An Eclectic Service for Budding Record Enthusiasts

Marc HenshallReviewsLeave a Comment

Vinyl record subscription services continue to grow in popularity. They’re a fantastic way to grow your collection, discover new music, and broaden your musical horizon. At Sound Matters, we’ve reviewed a wide range of vinyl record subscription services available in North America, the UK, and the EU.  Each service offers a unique approach, with some focusing on specific genres and … Read More

How to Clean Old Vinyl Records – Top Tips: Bring Your Collection Back to Life

Marc HenshallCleaning Vinyl3 Comments

So you’ve hit the record store and come back with a hoard of classic old vinyl records. ….Or, perhaps you’ve inherited or recently received a box of records and you’re excited to dive in.  You flick through the collection, select a record, and gently place it on your turntable.  As the stylus lowers and makes contact with the groove, you’re … Read More

Nine Classic Album Covers and What Makes them Great

Marc HenshallClassic Albums, Culture & Industry17 Comments

For any vinyl collector, a considerable part of the appeal and experience is the artwork. In many cases, album covers are classic art pieces in their own right and a significant contributor to pop culture. Countless classic album covers are instantly recognizable; they transcend generational boundaries and form part of our collective identity as a society. In some case, they … Read More

Pro-Ject VC-E Review – Is it as good as the bigger VC-S2 ALU

Marc HenshallCleaning Vinyl, Reviews3 Comments

Does the VC-E compact record cleaning machine from Pro-Ject match up to its bigger brother, the VC-S2 ALU? Sound Matters put the device through its paces.  When Pro-Ject upgraded its popular vacuum record cleaning machines with shiny new aluminum chassis, we quickly investigated the new VC-S2 ALU. As a direct replacement for Pro-Ject’s flagship VC-S, the new VC-S2 ALU brought … Read More

Classic Albums: Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Marc HenshallClassic AlbumsLeave a Comment

Every so often, an album comes along that changes everything. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is one of those albums and a classic landmark body of work within the hip-hop and rap genre. When VMP (Vinyl Me Please) announced the album as their September Essentials Record of the Month, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to celebrate another classic album. … Read More