Comparison

Vinyl Speed vs Deadwax

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Vinyl Speed

Features
Read full description

Vinyl Speed is the essential companion for any vinyl enthusiast seeking perfect playback. It transforms your iPhone into a high-precision tool that measures your turntable's rotational speed. Vinyl records sound their best when played at the exact right speed. Even minor deviations can alter pitch, tempo, and the listening experience. With Vinyl Speed, you can easily verify your turntable is spinning at precisely 33⅓, 45, or 78 RPM. FEATURES - Accurately measures turntable speed to two decimal places using your device's advanced motion sensors - Support for all standard vinyl playback speeds: 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM - Choose between 15 or 30-second tests for different precision needs - 5-second countdown gives you time to place your device properly on the platter - Detailed analysis showing measured speed, deviation percentage, and accuracy rating - Real-time monitoring of rotational consistency to identify fluctuations - Receive practical suggestions when speed issues are detected - Save and review past measurements with custom notes to track adjustments over time No external hardware needed—just place your iPhone on your turntable platter and start measuring.

About

Deadwax

This app helps vinyl collectors identify the best pressings of albums in their Discogs collection. It provides detailed insights into mastering engineers, audiophile labels, and forum-recommended versions to help you find and keep the highest-quality records.

Highlights
  • Discogs collection integration
  • Pressing Intelligence for audiophile versions
  • Mastering engineer and label insights
  • Forum and shootout video references
  • Curated discovery surface
  • Wantlist with pressing focus
Features
Read full description

Most record apps tell you what albums you own. Connect to your Discogs collection, and Deadwax shows you which pressings you own, and whether they’re the ones worth keeping. Deadwax brings the pressing research collectors already do: audiophile versions, notable mastering engineers, forum favorites, and shootout results into one app. Deadwax. I have bought the same album three times, not on purpose. The first was a deal that did not sound right. The second came from a record fair - a dealer I trusted, a sleeve that looked right, a runout I could not quite read. It was not the one either. The third time, I had done the research. Read the threads. Cross-referenced the matrix markings. I paid more than I wanted to. The needle dropped, and I finally understood what all the fuss was about. The pressing makes the record. The same master, cut by a different engineer at a different plant, sounds like a different record. Most of us have been flying blind, or searching through forums and watching shootout videos to find the best pressing. A familiar scenario for any record collector. Deadwax changes that by doing the heavy lifting and research for you and bringing those insights to your fingertips with Pressing Intelligence. No marketplace noise - just the data that separates one copy from another to help you find the pressing to own. PRESSING INTELLIGENCE Every release in your collection gets a pressing-level breakdown: notable mastering engineers, audiophile and audiophile adjacent labels, best pressings from popular forums, and shootout video winners from creators we trust. PI badges flag full pressing Intelligence. AP badges surface the audiophile pressings you may not have known you owned. With a tap, you are directed to review forums and launched into a shootout video reference. YOUR COLLECTION A clean visual grid of your Discogs collection. PI and AP badges surface what matters. Tap any release for full pressing detail. No more cross-referencing different pressings across your browser tabs and reading decade-old forum threads. WANTLIST WITH PURPOSE Add a release directly from Deadwax. Syncs with Discogs. No double-entry, no marketplace upsell - just the pressings you are still hunting. Built around the specific pressing, not just the title. DISCOVER, CURATED A discovery surface organized around mastering engineers, audiophile labels, and the people who actually own these records - curated lists, not algorithmic filler. In the record shop, quickly type in the matrix from the deadwax and know instantly you’re holding a great-sounding pressing. If you have ever bought the same album twice chasing a better pressing -  Deadwax was built for you. If you have ever squinted at a runout etching, trying to decode whether it says A2 or B2, Deadwax was built for you. If you have ever wondered whether the copy on your shelf is the one to keep, you already know the answer. Deadwax shows it to you.

Screenshots

Vinyl Speed4 screens
Deadwax4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Deadwax at Free against Vinyl Speed's $3.99. Deadwax also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 5 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Deadwax is free to download; Vinyl Speed costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vinyl Speed ships an update every 5 months, Deadwax every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Vinyl Speed versus Deadwax: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVinyl SpeedDeadwax
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating—4.7 (15 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—15 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.217.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRick DeCostJason Means

In-app purchases

None

Vinyl Speed

No in-app purchases

None

Deadwax

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Vinyl Speed free?
Vinyl Speed costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Deadwax free?
Deadwax is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Vinyl Speed or Deadwax have ads?
Neither Vinyl Speed nor Deadwax shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vinyl Speed or Deadwax?
Vinyl Speed ships an update every 5 months, and Deadwax every 6 days. Most recently, Vinyl Speed was updated on October 30, 2026 and Deadwax on October 31, 2026.

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