5 Reasons Why People Still Prefer Listening to Vinyl Records

There are several reasons why people still listen to vinyl. Here are just 5 of them:

1. Superior sound: Vinyl gives an analogue sound that is unmatched. The music and vocals are much closer to the way the artist sounds live due to a lossless format that hasn’t been over-compressed.

2. Record culture: Vinyl is a culture. When you buy and listen to vinyl you become part of that culture. And, unlike much of the digital world in which we live today, this is a culture that includes real, tangible connections.

3. The vinyl experience: Forget swiping or tapping a screen. Vinyl delivers a genuine experience. Leafing through your record collection, removing the chosen record from its sleeve, carefully placing it on the turntable, and finally, placing the needle on the groove. Then comes that delightful crackle. With vinyl, listening to music is an activity, not a background to the main event.

4. Longevity: With a little TLC, records last a long time. Records from decades ago sound just as good today as they did when they were released provided they are kept in good-quality record sleeves and treated with the respect they deserve.

5. Resell value: Records are an investment. You can enjoy them now, but if you decide to sell them in the future, they will hold their value. In some cases, the value may even rise. Compare that with the bargain bin of great albums on CD or music simply held somewhere in cyberspace and streamed to your phone.

After a brief interlude where CDs had a moment in the spotlight, vinyl records are very much here to stay. At Sleeves-n-More, we cater to the vinyl enthusiast, with a selection of products to help you care for your record collection, including:

·         Outer vinyl record sleeves

·         Poly inner record sleeves

·         HDPE record sleeves

For our full range, head to our website or give us a call.

How to Clean Your Vinyl Records Without Damaging Them

Autumn always seems like a good time to clean your vinyl record collection. Summer is over, you’re looking forward to spending time indoors listening to great music the way it should be played, and you want the quality to be tip-top.

Vinyl needs to be kept clean to make sure it works properly – but you don’t want to damage the surface of the record whilst trying to ensure it reaches perfection.

So, no dusters, cleaning sprays, or abrasives. If you want to clean vinyl records, you need vinyl cleaning solutions and a vinyl record brush.

To clean a vinyl record:

·         Take a vinyl record cleaning brush and get rid of any dust and static

·         Dampen a fresh microfibre cloth using distilled water and gently wipe the surface of the record in a circular motion (taking care not to get the center wet)

·         Now repeat the same circular cleaning motion using a clean microfibre cloth and the cleaning solution

·         Finally, with another clean, dry microfibre cloth, gently dry your record

Then, the only thing left to do is pour a glass of your favourite tipple, sit back, and enjoy musical perfection!

At Sleeves-n-More, we stock a whole range of vinyl records and accessories to help you get maximum pleasure from your collection. Whatever your vinyl needs, check out our site for everything the vinyl enthusiast needs this autumn.

How to Pack and send Vinyl Records

For record sellers, it is very important to know how to pack them correctly. You can reduce the number of discs that break or damage your record outer sleeves if you follow some advice. If you do it right, you should be able to send thousands of discs a year with less or no damage.

Get the materials. Do not use old boxes that you have on hand just because you can put a disc inside. If you use a box that is too big, you will have to pay more in shipping costs due to the weight. In addition, the black disc could slip inside and be damaged. Several UK companies manufacture boxes of similar designs that are ideal for disc shipments. Others like Sleeves-n-more have fantastic varieties of record sleeves too.

Control your spending, and aim for around £1 per package including the box, bubbles, plastic bag, tape, and cardboard pads.

Place the disc and record protective sleeves in a plastic bag. The bag is a good way to keep the disc and lid separate. Many collectors prefer that vinyl does not move inside the lid during transport, as this can rub a hole through the edges.

Place plastic bubble wrap around the disc and black record sleeves. This cushions the spine and the right edge, and prevents it from moving around inside the box. For the most valuable discs, use 12-inch (30 cm) cardboard pads to stiffen the box. Place them on the top and bottom of the disc, outside the bubble wrap. 

Close the box. The boxes for mail discs are very good because they are the exact size to place comfortably from one to six vinyl discs and record protective sleeves (depending on the style) and you do not need to cut the cardboard. Just fold the flaps, apply tape on all three seams and you're done.