ARTICLES
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...
Turntable or Record Player?
My parents bought me my first record player when I was five. It played 45s, and it was red. I can still picture it today. It was called a “Close ’n Play” and had a plastic lid and a handle so you could carry it around. The speaker was housed in the lid. The plastic...
Belt Drive vs Direct Drive Turntables
With all passions or hobbies comes debate. If you’re a fly-fisher, it will be the type of fly for different situations or the materials used. If you play guitar, it might be the Fender vs. Gibson debate. It could even be who is stronger – the Hulk or Superman. As with...
Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Phono Preamp Review
I receive alot of questions about the Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 since I used to use it with my main setup. I figured I would update this and bring the review I made a few years ago back to help those folks. In this review, I’m going to dig into the nitty-gritty of its...
Is Alcohol Bad for Your Vinyl Records?
Rabbit holes can be deep, and some go much deeper than others. Do a little research on if it’s okay to clean your vinyl records with alcohol. The hole you’ll find yourself in has so many twists and turns you’ll come out of it no wiser than you were when you went into...
Can You Fix A Warped Record?
There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a brand-new sealed record, unwrapping it, and placing it on your turntable to find it is warped. Okay, there are more frustrating things, but it ranks up there with scratches in the record-buying world. I’ve had this happen...
Hidden Messages in Album Covers
I love album cover artwork. When I was a kid, I would study every nuance of every image. I looked for hidden meanings in the lyrics as I listened to the music. The idea of hiding the truth in plain sight on a cover made the artwork more compelling. Placing hidden gems...
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