Soul Jazz record bag

Here's a simple record bag from UK-based Soul Jazz records. Similar in size to the Technics City bags, these zipper-top canvas bags will hold up to 25 records, have a small outside pocked, and are lined with a thin layer of rubber to keep water out.

Favorite feature: The bag was designed with a stiff bottom and small plastic feet, allowing it to stand upright when placed on the ground.

Available here in Gray, Black, and Blue from Turntable Lab for $32

The Vinyl Shuffle

A fearless selection of songs for one nation under a groove. That tagline graces the header of one of our favorite new blogs and fun game to play when people stop by our apartment. The blog and the game are known as The Vinyl Shuffle and it was brought to my attention on Twitter by Stephen Tisdale, its creator. Here's a bit about it:

This blog is a tribute to the years that I lived in a loft in downtown LA.  I spent all my time alone, on the turntables, and was kept company by my  record collection.

Living there was a bit like a musical Seinfeld.  I was always home, and people would drop by (sometimes through the door, sometimes through the fire escape).  My records were always unorganized, but I seemed to know where to find them.  Others didn’t, though, but that didn’t stop them from finding something to throw on the turntables — out of that, grew a little game we dubbed “vinyl shuffle”.  The rules were simple.  Two or more could play.

• Step One:  The FIRST DJ up would start by closing his/her eyes, and picking a record from the shelf and hand it to the SECOND DJ.
• Step Two:  The SECOND DJ would then put that record down on one of the two turntables (whichever was available) and begin playing any song from that album of his/her choosing.
• Step Three: As soon as the song began playing, that DJ would go back to the shelf, and blindly pick another record and hand it to the FIRST DJ.
• Step Four:  The FIRST DJ would take the record, and then place that on the other available turntable, pick a track and mix in that next song in whatever way they wanted.  No rules.  As soon as the new track began playing, he/she would go over to the record shelf and…

Back to step one!

On the blog, random mixes of music from Stephen's record collection are compiled and can be streamed and downloaded.  His latest random mix from October 4th goes from Tom Waits to David Alexrod to Lou Rawls to Freddie Hubbard. We love it.

Check out the full blog here or to learn more about why he created the blog, check out this page. Keep it up!

Headphone hooks from Ikea

BJÄRNUM - $4.99EKBY VALTER - $3.00BJÄRNUM Folding Hook 3/$10RIGEL Hook - $0.99

Following up on our DIY Headphone Stand post from yesterday, we wanted to note some Ikea products that will allow you to have a simple, inexpensive headphone hook on your wall.

Above are four models that we came across that we really like. Best of all, they all come in under $5 / hook.

Click any of them to be taken to the Ikea catalog page.

ASLAN record and stylus cleaner

Keeping your records and stylus clean is an essential part of ensuring their longevity and playback quality. 

Yesterday, we received some fantastic cleaning products for vinyl records and stylii from the good people over as ASLAN. Their premium, lab-grade record cleaner does more than leave a brilliant shine. It was specially formulated to eliminate the dirt and grime that can accumulate on records. Combined that with their 100% velvet cleaning pad, you're left with records that both look and sound great. Here's a bit about why they made these products.

Stop pouring your hard earned money into cleaner after ridiculous cleaner at local electronic shops! I have been collecting, trading and selling my vast music inventory for half my life... there arose a need for a cleansing fluid that wouldn't just give a cosmetic shine to the surface of the vinyl, but in fact a safe deep clean that would improve audio and not cause long term damage to my cherished collection.

Caring for my records and preserving them for long life is why I invested years of lab research and labor in formulating the best possible product. What started as a made to order kit shared with friends and local businesses took off into what is now a top selling cleaning solution for vinyl maintenance. 

They also sent over their premium stylus cleaner and fine nylon brush to remove particles that build up on your needle over time. After cleaning both a record and the stylus, it's easily one of the best combinations of cleaning products we've used here at Analog Apartment.

Best of all, they're affordable. A kit containing a 2-ounce bottle of their record cleaner and brush is available here for $12.99 and the stylus cleaning kit (solution and brush) is available here for $11.99. Solution refills are also available in larger quantities here.

Thanks to the folks at ASLAN for sending these over!

Sieveking Omega headphone stand

As a follow up to our DIY Headphone Stand article, we wanted to mention these beautiful Omega headphone stands from Sieveking. Here's a bit about them from their site.

The Sieveking Sound Headphone Stand Omega is now available. Ever since the Omega was presented at the Munich High End 2009 response has been enthusiastic and now we have got the four real wood veneers of maple, cherry, walnut and the exotic looking zebrano ready. The Omega is completely Made in Germany and constructed from a single piece and then coated with a lacquer that is certified for use with children's toys. It is delivered within a pouch of undyed flannel. This pouch is suitable as light and dust protection for the Omega and the headphones resting on it.

The Omega's design has been granted a design trademark by the European Union already. The stand is ideal for any serious listener who does not want to see his headphones discarded in some corner but is proud to show his love for music.

The flat surfaces of the Omega mean even pressure to the earpads and thus will prolong your listening pleasure as they keep their shape much longer. The Omega is large enough to support very large headphones like a Sennheiser HD 800 or the round models by Stax as well.

Sexiness has its price and in this case, it's around $179. To find a reseller in your country, check out the product page here and scroll to the bottom.