Protecting your vinyl collection doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. One of the simplest ways to keep your records clean is by using resealable outer sleeves. Dust, pet hair and airborne contaminants are major enemies of vinyl, and even well‑stored records can suffer over time. After professionally cleaning a friend’s collection, we discovered that the older‑style resealable sleeves he’d used since the 1980s had kept his albums in remarkably good condition. For around $2 per record, these sleeves add an effective extra layer of protection—especially for gatefolds, double LPs and oversized albums. When you consider the value of a well‑maintained vinyl collection, this small investment can save you thousands in the long run.

Alan Parsons said “Audiophiles don’t use their equipment to listen to music. Audiophiles use your music to listen to their equipment” This one is a bit of a ‘hot potato’…. I can just see Audiophiles steaming at the suggestion, and lovers of music are applauding the idea. Definition- ‘An audiophile is a person who loves listening to high-quality sound from a stereo. Audiophile-grade recordings and equipment are designed to reproduce music without distortion or coloration.’ So that sounds, no pun intended, about right. As audiophiles we do love to sit down and try a new record, or music from a...

Heading out of San Fran Central you cross the San Fran- Oakland bridge (the Bay Bridge) and head to the area of Berkley, with the famous University. It has a College town feel and vibe. Two records stores recommended are: ‘Amoeba’ Berkley- Smaller, but nicely stacked with treats. Some good value stuff with an emphasis on newer albums. ‘Rasputin’ Records- same area and a big site. Lots of CD’s and a great selection of lovely vinyl downstairs. We saw a store called ‘Hi Fidelity’ but they sell (legally) Cali Green and how pervasive is that smell. Moving on we headed...