ARTICLES
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...
A Great Entry Level Turntable
Buying your first turntable is difficult. Researching which one to buy is even more challenging. Especially when articles, blog posts, and Reddit threads praise and trash every option out there. I get it. It happens every time I want to add to my setup. Even something...
What are MM and MC Turntable Cartridges?
In a previous post, I looked at the different types of turntable styli. If you recall, your stylus sits at the end of a cantilever. The other end of the cantilever disappears into a little magic box called the cartridge. It’s where something is created that didn’t...
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