u/Euphoric_Place_8507

Some PA speakers sound amazing for a year… then start rattling the second they see a pub gig or a damp van floor. We were talking about this after seeing an old pair of Yamaha speakers still going strong after what looked like decades of abuse.

What’s the toughest PA speaker you’ve ever owned or used? The kind that survives constant loading, sketchy venues, outdoor gigs, and still works perfectly.

Plus, if you're in the market for a durable PA speaker, we've compiled a list of some of our favourites!

Feels like every band has that story eventually.

Everything seems fine, rehearsals are booked, gigs are coming together… then suddenly someone drops the “I’m done” message and disappears overnight.

What’s the most unexpected band breakup or member exit you’ve experienced?

We'd never really thought about how much some records are worth until we ended up down a rabbit hole looking at the most expensive vinyl records ever sold. Some of the prices are genuinely wild, but it got us wondering about everyday collectors too!

What's the most you've ever spent on a single record? Was it a rare pressing, a signed copy, a grail you've been hunting for years, or just an album you had to own? Did you ever regret the purchase, or was it worth every penny?

For anyone interested, our very own Shane pulled together some of the most expensive vinyl records ever sold https://www.av.com/blog/most-expensive-vinyl-records/

Would love to hear the stories behind your biggest vinyl purchases.

Summer feels like the perfect time to get outside and capture sounds you’d never hear sitting at a desk!

Rain, trains, crowds, birds, random street noise… anything.

Has anyone here used a field recorder for music production or sampling? Curious what sounds you’ve captured that actually made it into a track. We’ve also put together a guide on some great field recorders here!

We've all had that moment where we discover a sample we've heard for years actually came from somewhere completely unexpected.

Whether it was an old soul record, a film, a TV show, a video game, or something even stranger, which song made you do a double-take when you found out the original source?

Which sample caught you off guard, and did hearing the original change how you felt about the track? Kudos to this video from TRACKLIB

Feels like every guitarist has heard the same comments over and over again.

“Anyway, here’s Wonderwall.”

“Play something we know.”

Some songs and requests seem to follow guitarists around for life.

So what’s the one thing people say or ask that instantly makes you roll your eyes?

When you’re new, everything feels a bit unfamiliar. What did you find hardest in the beginning? Drums, melodies, arranging, mixing?

Been seeing more people pick up portable CDs again lately!

Streaming’s obviously easier, but there is something fun about physically choosing what to bring with you. Feels more intentional somehow.

Curious if anyone here still uses one regularly? Or is it more of a nostalgia thing now?

Happy Beatles Day!!!

Every Beatles discussion seems to end up here eventually.....

Lennon gave us some of the most iconic and introspective tracks, McCartney had an unbelievable knack for melody, Harrison wrote some absolute classics later on, and even Ringo had his moments.

If you had to pick one member based purely on songwriting, who gets your vote?

Johnny Marr is auctioning dozens of guitars connected to major moments in his career, saying he'd rather see them inspire other musicians than sit in storage.

What do we think? Should iconic instruments end up in museums and collections, or is it better when they find their way into the hands of players who'll actually use them?

Curious where everyone lands on this one.

This comes up quite a lot whenever we talk hi-fi. Does your partner fully support the hobby, tolerate it, or just not understand why anyone needs three different pairs of headphones and a rack full of gear?

We've heard everything from "they love listening too" to "they've banned any more boxes arriving at the house".

Curious to hear how it works in your household and whether your partner sees it as a passion, an obsession, or somewhere in between.

With the weather picking up, it feels like the perfect time to get outside and play a bit more. So what are you taking with you? A travel guitar, or are you brave enough to bring a full-size out? What’s worked best for you? We've put together a guide on how to travel with a guitar....just in case you were wondering!

Looking through a vinyl collection can sometimes feel like a map of where your music taste came from.

For some people, it starts with records passed down from parents. For others, it's albums they grew up hearing around the house and eventually bought for themselves years later.

How much of your collection is down to parental influence?

Are there any artists or albums you probably wouldn't own if it weren't for your parents? Or did your collection end up going in a completely different direction?

Today is World Music Day, which started back in France as a day where anyone and everyone could get out and play music in public, no matter their level!

The idea was simple: music everywhere. Streets, parks, rooftops… anyone could join in!

So we’re curious… Are you playing today, or just listening? And if you are playing, where are you doing it?

We always hear about US brands, but Europe has some incredible builders too.

What European guitar brands have impressed you the most, and why?

Feels like we're spoiled for choice with wireless earbuds now, but every so often you try a pair that genuinely makes you stop and think, "these are on another level."

Whether it's sound quality, comfort, battery life, noise cancelling, or just overall value, which wireless earbuds have impressed you the most?

We've obviously got a few favourites from testing different audio gear, but we're curious what the community keeps coming back to.

Every collection starts out organised. Then somehow things get complicated.

Some people file everything alphabetically. Others sort by genre, artist, release date, colour, or whatever makes sense in the moment. And then there are the collections that only their owner can navigate.

How do you organise your records, CDs, tapes, or music library?

And be honest... could someone else find an album in your collection without your help?

Paul McCartney has just turned 84 (Happy Birthday Paul), and he's still performing, recording, and drawing huge crowds. Mick Jagger isn't far behind either!

It got us wondering where people stand on this. If a musician still enjoys playing and fans still want to see them, should they carry on for as long as they can?

Or is there a point where even the biggest legends should step away and leave the stage behind?

Interested to hear what everyone thinks, especially if you've seen some of these artists live in recent years.