General Banter

Don’t panic!! This isn’t about obsession… It’s about inspiration! I’m gonna inspire you all here - and there is a lesson to be had! This is about something that we all identify with and I feel like I just have to write about it. This is about the importance of knowing what inspires you, and always being mindful of it, so that you don’t look back on life and realise that your inspiration walked right on by and you didn’t even give it a nod, you may not have even noticed. That is a day of regret.

The conundrum is that the second group know how to listen and they create equipment that they can’t fully hear, for a group of people who can hear better than them but who don’t fully listen.Clearly what we need is more younger people getting into ‘real’ HiFi because they have a skill that I would sooooooo dearly like to have again. A natural attribute that is seems shameful to waste - They have the upper 4kHz of dreams!!

If you are into the fine art of collecting (or just playing!) vinyl records then check out our excellent blog post showing you which equipment and practices to avoid - and which to embrace. Here's the advice you need about the best way to avoid trashing your lovely collection!! If you don't already do these things then you should start now!

Now here's the thing... you may have heard me talking about anoraks in the past. I have a few, some of a very high quality - some less so. I have a DIY anorak, a car restoration anorak (Dolomite Sprint at the moment!), a HUGE Guitar anorak that I just can't get off anymore... a very dysfunctional and not even...

In the late 1970’s three chord punk dominated the countercultural tide in Britain. Groups like The Damned, The Sex Pistols and The Clash pushed the idea that anyone could pick up an instrument and become a rock star. The only problem for some is that even learning chord was too traditional a route to go down to create something truly...

Tangerine Dream may a be name synonymous with 80’s Action Aficionados, Dutch Coffee Shop frequenters and Synth Nerds the world over but their lasting impact has influenced countless Musicians, Film Makers artists and more since 1967. Their collaborative web has stretched far and wide beyond their Berlin roots. Taking their name from a ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ Lyric...

Of Course It Does!!! But if it was as simple as that this would be a very short blog.. you'd have your jacket on and be on your way to the pub by now... SO here it is! This is not a new question, a few years ago I sold a whole boot full of HIFi magazines... I'd been collecting...

'Don't be daft, of course everyone knows what Stereo is' you say. But they don't! Let's start with a bit of very unscientific, non-empirical and very loosely recorded (one post-it note of 'data') market research. Essentially I phoned a few people up and just asked 'Do you know what stereo is? I also asked (depending on the answer to the first...

‘The Chain’ A Naturally evolving series of views and reviews that gives us the chance to hear about the records that have changed the ears of the people who have played a part in changing ours.. Each guest blogger will stake their claim in the chain then pass the mic to their chosen commentator – the Phonostage Blogaphonic Workshop will...

I've not had to go far this week before bumping into some speculative feature about the 'comeback' of cassette tapes. Actually i'm going to rephrase that without the inverted commas... we are talking about the actual comeback of cassette tapes, there's nothing inverted about it, and they would have to come right back - because they went right out! Furthermore I'm...