They impart a warm, rich sound—some may call it "coloured"—that softens the harsh brightness often associated with transistor-based gear. You can use the terms tubes, vacuum tubes, or valves interchangeably.   Until the 1960s, valves dominated many electronic devices, including home stereos, car radios, cinema amplifiers, guitar amps, tape machines, and televisions. However, as Japanese manufacturers embraced transistors, gear became more compact, durable, and cost-effective, leading to the decline of valve production. The golden era of valve manufacturing spanned the 1940s–1960s, with vast quantities produced worldwide—many designed for specific applications. Since they are sealed in a vacuum, they tend to...

It’s hard to believe Songs from the Big Chair was released all the way back in 1985, and therefore, it is the 40th Anniversary of this iconic album. In good old New Zealand, at that time, we had welcomed a new more progressive Labour Government (not popular for everyone) that began dismantling the stifling controls and protectionism that had been in place since WWII. Times were changing and the 80’s were booming in NZ and globally. Money was still tight for the young ones, but no one minded to much as there was no shortage of great music, but we...

As discussed last month, there was significant damage to the Lyra MC cartridge. This is not the first instance of such an incident; previously, a Burmese cat caused damage to a Rega Apheta cartridge.    The decision lay between replacing the cartridge with another Lyra Delos or selecting a different option. The Lyra provides excellent detailing and can be revealing, which has both advantages and disadvantages. It is particularly beneficial in evaluating records to highlight the essence of production and pressing.   After careful consideration and consultation with knowledgeable friends, I have opted for the Rega Apheta 3 MC. This...

We’ve recently relocated the OnVinyl business to a new site nearby, still based in Grey Lynn. It was no small feat lugging over 1000kgs of records to their new home, and the movers were understandably puzzled by the whole process.   But, of course, we’ve continued cleaning, grading, and photographing the stock for our website. This means we’ll need to listen to the records, because, ultimately, the sound is what matters most.   Our reference Rega turntable made the move to the new premises, and we set up the valve pre- and power amps, along with the hefty KEF speakers...

We have had a number of inquiries (and some rather wonderful feedback) about how we approach grading records for sale. The widely-used Goldmine/Discogs grading system provides clear, concise descriptions of the condition of second-hand vinyl, detailing the state of both the sleeve and the record itself. It relies on the seller's fair and reasonable judgment. However, one important question remains unanswered by this system: How does the record actually sound?  For the OnVinyl team, sound quality is central to our grading philosophy. Over the past few years, we've had many discussions with our record-buying clients, and for many, sound quality...

I’ve got to confess—one of my biggest pet peeves is browsing a website only to find that most of the items are out of stock. I’m sure you’ve noticed supply chain challenges lately, and they might get even tougher. But there’s always a smarter way to do things, right? So, I asked my tech team to improve the user experience on our website in a way I’d personally enjoy. While they advised that designing based solely on my tastes wasn’t the best strategy, I know what I like, so I went ahead with it anyway. Here's what we've done to...