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
“Twelve Inch” Magnet Vinyl Display Systems in Review
A big part of what draws music fans into the world of vinyl records is the joy of owning the physical product. Music on vinyl is both practical and beautiful, enticing many collectors to display records in their home as art in its own right. Just like a painting, the pieces you choose to display make a statement about you … Read More
How to Fit a Cartridge on a Headshell
There are many reasons why you might want to replace the cartridge on your turntable tonearm. You could be looking to upgrade the performance and sound quality, or you might be looking to play older mono records or even vintage 78s. In some cases, you might purchase a turntable used and simply need to fit a new cartridge of your … Read More
Different Mastering, Same Record – Californication Mastering Comparison
Here’s why I own four copies of The Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication. The mastering process of a vinyl record can make or break the overall sound quality. The mix engineer can get everything right, from the initial microphone technique to the final mix, but if the mastering quality is poor, the record will fall at the final hurdle. Sadly, … Read More
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 … Read More