ARTICLES
The Who – Live at Shea Stadium 1982
My introduction to The Who happened in the fall of 1980. I was 13 years old on a class field trip, and someone had smuggled their tape player onto the bus (also known as a boombox for the uninitiated). There was one song I vaguely recognized from the radio, but what...
Are Vinyl Records Truly Better Than CDs?
A commenter on my YouTube channel recently stated that vinyl "sucks", and they would put their CD version of Van Halen's 5150 up against the vinyl version to prove it. I'm not a huge fan of the band's "Van Hagar" lineup. I'm on team David when it comes to Van Halen...
Those Damned Paper Sleeves
I recently bought a US first pressing of U2’s Boy. I was in my local record store and inspected the record quickly before purchasing it. The lighting in the store isn’t the best for inspecting a record, but I couldn’t see any visible scratches, warps, dimples, or...
The Hidden Cost of Tube Amps
Tube amps are beautiful to look at. When I first purchased the Galion TS120, I marveled at how beautiful it looked at night when I dimmed the lights in our listening room. It was exactly what I expected vacuum tubes to look like - a steam-punk aesthetic that brings...
Visit Your Friends
I often get asked why I prefer vinyl over any other format, especially given my investment in my collection and the equipment to play it with. It’s a constant journey. But why undertake the journey at all? Especially when I can ask Alexa to play any song I want to...
What I’ve Learned in the Past 45 Years of Collecting Records
I’ve been collecting records for over four decades. While I’m proud of how I’ve taken care of my record collection, I’ve made mistakes with storage and used some pretty poor equipment in my 20s. Fortunately, most of the records I bought as new ones back in the 70s and...
Should You Insure Your Record Collection?
Wherever you are in your vinyl record journey, you may reach a point when your collection has grown to where it’s not only a treasure trove of memories but also valuable. My collection now teeters over 1500 albums,. There are a few rare gems and collector’s items...
Tips On Starting A Vinyl Record Collection
Collecting records is a journey. It can also be a little intimidating at the beginning. My journey has lasted for well over forty years. I remember when my entire collection could be held between two hands. As a kid, I contemplated the best way to display them in my...
Why I Clean New Vinyl Records
When I was a teenager, music was my world. I was on a constant journey of discovery. I’d overhear a conversation in class about a band someone loved, and there it was, something new to check out. That’s how I first learned of Blue Öyster Cult. Walking through the...
Rick’s Review of the KLH Model 5 Speakers
It’s time for another review. This time, it’s the KLH Model 5 speaker. I’ve had them for a few weeks now and am well past the recommended eight hours of break-in. It took me a while to settle on the Model 5s. I’ve mentioned in the past that reviews lead me down a...
Manual vs. Automatic Turntables
Whether buying your first turntable or upgrading your present one, you’ll face many decisions. Not too long ago, I switched out my direct drive/internal preamp model for a belt-driven one with an external preamp. I had models on my wish list, and when it came time to...
When to Change Your Stylus
Diamonds Aren’t Forever Imagine this horrific scenario. You’ve settled down to listen to your favorite David Bowie album. For me, that would be Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. As you’re listening, you notice something. It doesn’t sound as clear as it used...
Subscribe to The Joy of Vinyl Newsletter