Best Budget Phono Cartridges
Best Turntable Isolation Platform: Buyer’s Guide
Vibration and resonance are the enemies of many vinyl enthusiasts. At best, it clouds the audio output, hindering your listening enjoyment. Worse still, it can disturb your stylus enough to knock it straight out of the groove during playback. There are many ways to guard your turntable against vibrations and resonance, from choosing the right turntable position to upgrading your … Read More
Best Turntable Mats for Improved Sound Quality
At first, changing a record mat can seem like a mere aesthetic upgrade. After all, can the material between your records and the turntable platter really make a difference to the sound? The truth is, everything affects the sound when it comes to a physical format like vinyl! Choosing the right turntable mat can make a significant difference to the performance of … Read More
Pro-Ject MaiA S3 Review – Small Amp, Big Sound?
Pro-Ject recently announced the launch of their upgraded MaiA integrated amplifier. The new MaiA S3 is said to boast several upgrades on the original design to deliver flexibility and audiophile-quality sound in a compact design. The fundamental question is: can the S3 punch above its weight? Pro-Ject first released the MaiA amplifier in 2014. The name stands for “My Audiophile … Read More
The Best Vintage Turntables for Audiophiles
Buying a vintage turntable can offer many advantages over shiny new decks fresh off the production line. First and foremost, going vintage can make obtaining a higher-quality turntable more affordable. The potential to grab a bargain will undoubtedly appeal to many record collectors, as, let’s face it, HiFi audio and record collecting isn’t exactly the cheapest of hobbies. When choosing … Read More
HEXMAT Eclipse Review – The Best Platter Mat?
Back in 2020, Hungarian innovators HEXMAT turned the platter mat market on its head with the truly unique Yellow Bird record isolator. The new Eclipse model promises further improvements on the initial concept. Can it deliver? Sound Matters put the HEXMAT Eclipse through its paces. Platter mats are often overlooked in the turntable accessory market. After all, why would a … Read More
New Bamboo Vinyl Wall Display from Twelve Inch
In a push to improve the quality and sustainability of their products, Sound Matters partners Twelve Inch have switched their popular frameless record display systems from plastic to Bamboo. As a vinyl enthusiast and a fan of natural materials to boot, the new product sounds ideal on paper. Sound Matters dig deeper to see how the new design measures up. … Read More
Top Vinyl Record Books For Record Collectors
As record enthusiasts, we like nothing more than to indulge in our hobby. We’ll explore every aspect in search of vinyl nirvana, whether it’s through the pages of a website like Sound Matters, the many excellent resources available on YouTube, or even good old fashioned printed books. Many of us don’t do things by halves, and we’re a stickler for … Read More
Vinyl Pursuit – Used Record Shopping without the Nasty Surprises?
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
VinylBox Subscription Review – An Eclectic Service for Budding Record Enthusiasts
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