Here in hi-fi PR land, the awards season is in full swing (fortunately, we’ve bagged a few), and the audio journalists have prepared their “best of” lists that will appear in print and online at the end of the year. The journalists are also doing what much of the industry does right now: grab their favourite audio products to add to their existing hi-fi systems to see them through the autumn and winter months.

What the team at Loud & Clear loves to do at this time of year is invite friends over for dinner and/or drinks and share some tunes on their hi-fi system. I’ve been talking to them about this, and I’m definitely going to start doing it more often.

Picture this: It’s a chilly autumn evening. The sun has dipped below the horizon, and the warm glow of candles flickers around the room. Maybe there’s the comforting smell of a home-cooked meal or some hearty snacks laid out on the table, and the sound of laughter fills the air. But what really sets the scene? The music. Whether you’re into the rich, warm tones of vinyl or the endless possibilities of streaming, the right playlist can transform an ordinary night into something special.

There’s a certain charm to the tactile experience of playing records. The gentle murmur of the needle finding its groove, the act of flipping through albums, the anticipation of that first note – vinyl has a way of pulling people in. Your friends gather around, picking out albums, reminiscing about old favourites, or discovering something entirely new together. There’s something communal about sharing music this way.

Jimmy Page (of Led Zeppelin) shared some interesting thoughts about vinyl a few years ago: “Well, I’ve literally never stopped listening to vinyl. I was very disappointed when CDs came out because I didn’t like the sound of them. So much was lost with CDs, and then MP3s – they took so much of the depth, the whole panoramic three-D, or even five-D quality, of the audio experience. So, it was great to see the vinyl resurgence. Aside from the sound, there’s the tactile experience, the artwork, liner notes you can read without using a magnifying glass, and the act of actually putting on an album. It’s a lovely little ritual that I never tire of.”

I tend to agree with him about CDs, but some high-end players really are something special. I’m surprised he hasn’t managed to blag one on extended loan! CDs share one major advantage with streaming: you don’t have to get out of your chair as often as you do when playing a vinyl LP. If your CD player is like the one in Slow Horses – stuck on the same Coldplay track – now is definitely the time for an upgrade.

Streaming, on the other hand, is super convenient and brings its own magic to an evening. With the world of music literally at your fingertips, you can bounce between genres, moods, and eras with ease. One moment, you’re all moving to classic rock anthem, and the next, you’re swaying to a lo-fi beat. Streaming lets you adapt to the room’s energy, turning spontaneous moments into playlists of their own.

Whether you’re playing that rare album you’ve been dying to share or discovering new tunes together, there’s a shared intimacy in listening to music as a group. Everyone gathers around your vinyl setup or streaming system, and soon enough, the conversations flow into storytelling, laughter, and maybe even some off-key singing.

Another pleasure of inviting friends over to listen to music is showing off your system. A beautiful set of components can’t sit on their own in a listening room forever! If you’ve got it, flaunt it! It may sound a bit boastful, but in my experience, most people who visit my home love exploring what my system can do while admiring its design.

Lastly, now might be the best time ever to improve your system (especially that dodgy CD player). Loud & Clear is currently holding its biggest-ever sale, featuring excellent discounts on class-leading products. Spruce up your system and get ready to show off your sounds!

Matt Tasker (Ammonite Media), October 2024