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...

While it might seem unconventional to feature Frampton Comes Alive! as our second Iconic Album, it undeniably marks a significant moment in music history. You might have mixed feelings about it, but bear with us. For many who grew up in the 70s, this album evokes nostalgia. Ask anyone from that era, and you’re likely to hear comments like, “That was my college party album,” or “It takes me back to driving with my dad and this playing on the radio.” For a generation, Frampton Comes Alive! was more than just an album—it was a soundtrack to their formative years....

I first saw ‘Submachine’ magazine at my local coffee retailer, and was immediately taken by the quality of photography, the look and feel. “Must be a US publication” I thought to myself, but no….a very fine NZ mag with everything I love! (it needed a splash of vinyl though).    I recently sat down with Submachine magazines founder and editor, Al Best to talk about the magazine, it's origins and his philosophy. Al is a professional graphic designer and illustrator who spent ten years in advertising and another twenty as a freelancer. Born in Auckland and raised in Adelaide, he...

In French, there's a charming word for it: Flâneur. The Dictionary describes a Flâneur as “someone who strolls around without a specific purpose, observing people and society.” In modern travel parlance, this translates to the art of meandering through a city, savoring the thrill of the unknown around every corner. It’s about the joy of exploration—discovering what lies just beyond the next bend, finding unexpected gems in uncharted streets. One of the greatest pleasures in life is having the opportunity to simply wander. On our journey to Tokyo, this act of exploration becomes even more enchanting. Despite Tokyo’s bustling nature...