Jessica Monroe

My Marantz 2238B still sounds better than most amplifiers made today, but it had one problem: my entire music library lives on a phone. So our team spent three months testing the best Bluetooth streamers for vintage amplifiers across four classic systems, including a Fisher 500T receiver, a Sansui AU-717, and a Pioneer SX-780, to … Read more

Moving into a 12-by-15 dorm room with a crate of records is a gamble I made as a freshman, and I learned fast that not every turntable and speaker combo actually fits student life. After three semesters of testing setups, swapping speakers, and fielding noise complaints, I know what works and what ends up shoved … Read more

Yes, you can record vinyl straight to a computer, and the easiest way to do it is a USB turntable — a record player with a built-in analog-to-digital converter that shows up on your desktop like a microphone. We spent the last few months digitizing crate-dug 12-inches, thrift-store 45s, and a few family heirloom LPs … Read more

I still remember the first time I plugged a low-output moving coil cartridge straight into the MM input of my phono stage. The result sounded thin, noisy, and lifeless, like the music was being squeezed through a straw. That moment sent me down a rabbit hole that ended with a shelf full of MC step-up … Read more

Finding the best headshells for cartridge swapping comes down to three things: a secure bayonet fit, repeatable alignment, and a weight that matches your cartridges. Get those right and changing from a warm everyday tracker to a detail-grabbing microlinear stylus takes about thirty seconds. Get them wrong and you spend your evening with a protractor … Read more

If you have been building a vinyl collection for any length of time, you already know that records are heavy, delicate, and surprisingly difficult to store well. A single 12-inch LP weighs about 140 grams, and a collection of 300 records can easily tip the scales at 90-plus pounds. The wrong cabinet will bow under … Read more

Building a vinyl collection is exciting, but finding furniture that protects your records while looking great in your living room is the real challenge. Crosley has been answering that challenge since the company brought back the record player in the early 2000s. The brand now makes a full line of Crosley record storage furniture designed … Read more

After 60+ hours of research, dozens of forum threads, and three months living with these cabinets in our listening rooms, I can tell you one thing: audiophile vinyl storage is rarely about the price tag. It’s about how the cabinet treats your records. Symbol Audio built its reputation on solid hardwood construction, vibration-dampening design, and … Read more

My vinyl collection started with a single thrift store find and snowballed into 400 records stacked against my living room wall in cardboard boxes. If you have been collecting for any length of time, you know the problem: records multiply fast, and improper storage will warp your most prized pressings before you realize what happened. … Read more

Looking for the best 45 RPM 7-inch record storage boxes for your growing singles collection? I’ve spent the last two years testing every storage solution I could get my hands on, from budget cardboard options to professional touring cases, and I want to share what actually works. 7-inch vinyl singles present a unique storage challenge. … Read more