 Record Store Day 2019 - Newtown - Sydney A new friend and vinyl enthusiast who lives in Newtown gave me a list of shops to visit on Record Store Day 2019. I had never really explored that suburb for that particular aspect of it, apart from occasional visits to Classic Hifi who were not participating this year, their emphasis being more on gear. And my report will be biased toward gear as well! You have been warned... So let's go on a wander together! HUM - 271 King Street     One of the biggest shops on the Main Street, HUM stocks all kinds of vinyl, but also CDs and DVDs of music, TV series and film. Well organised, easy to find what you are looking for. Pretty average in terms of the sound system itself. EGG RECORDS - 3 Wilson Street    A full Audio-Technica rig is the main source used at Egg Records  Very nice Sansui vintage amplifier   Good olde British sound from these B&W speakers Not the biggest shop around but the owner is very knowledgeable and he is also the DJ. Good vintage set of speakers and electronic together with a current AudioTechnica rig to play vinyls. Do pay it a visit, worth the little detour via Wilson Street just off King Street. REPRESSED RECORDS - 413 King Street     The busiest shop by far! They are also selling second hand books on art, architecture and other topics. A self-service headphone based turntable system lets you sample the records you might want to buy, a great idea! SOMETHING ELSE RECORDS - 488 King Street    Very interesting little Bluetooth active speakers from Fluid Audio at 299A$/pair and sporting a very famous Audax tweeter. Frequency response specified as 54Hz-22kHz A very small shop, highly specialised, also selling DJ gear, and having their own DJ for the day. If you are into things like Dub Techno, Tech House, Electro and other esoteric - to me - genres, then this is the place for you. A tad too rad for me though... HALCYON DAZE RECORDS - 498 King Street Interesting logo and Newtown streetscape reflection  Brett Young the owner with some of the esoteric hifi gear he uses in his store  Tiny shop for aficionados  Vintage Musical Fidelity X-LP Phono Amplifier  Cute headphone amp driven by the X-LP phono stage  And feeding these gorgeous headphones  More vintage tube gear  And a neat pair of Usher speakers Very knowledgeable owner Brett Young, both in vintage hardware and software was a pleasure to talk to - I actually ended up talking to the two couples in the shop at the time too - and his shop is a paradise for vintage gear nerds like me! I will be back... NETWORK CONNECTION RECORDS - 463 King Street   Two private listening stations at Network Connection Records  The nicest fit out of all stores visited   Ollie, the DJ, was playing an eclectic mix of music the I actually liked. Mille on the right was the store manager on duty  Great DJ console sending low voltage signals to active speakers around the shop  These KRR ROKIT 5 G4 monitors are bi amplified and use DSP for perfect room coupling  On the other side of the room, a pair of Microlab speakers were making sure the whole space was covered  Even a nice couch for old gizzards like me.. This was definitely the best shop in terms of fit out, atmosphere, quality of music played and best staff. It reminded me of the now closed Turntable Lab LA that I was lucky to visit a few months before they closed. The Turntable Lab still has shops in NYC and Brooklyn. I bought the Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures album there, released after her untimely death...  A tad too early... Turntable Lab LA - January 2012  The DJ Console at Turntable Lab LA - January 2012  Lots of gear for DJ but also for vinyl novices  More gear...  The staff pick of the week... You can see the Amy Winehouse record in the top right corner  A great selection of cartridges PAPA DISQUO - 103 Enmore Road Not a very enticing shopfront, but I was intrigued by this big speaker near the door, so I walked in...  Quite larger inside than the outside would suggest Friendly staff, almost 100% vinyl, good listening system, deserves a mention... COTTONMOUTH RECORDS - 182 Enmore Road One of a kind - Vinyl, Beer and Whisky Bar  Cottonwood Records - The Bar  The amiable bartenders  and a very bored DJ, stuck behind a very messy store... It is certainly a great little bar, although I didn't partake as I had to drive the car home. But I have the feeling that the vinyl is almost a gimmick to attract the right clientele for the bar. There is a tiny dark room at the back named as the whisky room that I might go back for per public transport to sample some of their great collection of single malts. Stay tuned...  And a little joke to end a very good Record Store Day 2019 |
AuthorBorn in France, well travelled, relocated to Sydney in 1997.  Archives
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