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I love the nostalgia of the old days -- when you could hold a CD in your hand and slide it into your car's player, not to mention the thrill of actually going to the store to buy an album the day it was released. Perhaps that's why I took up collecting vinyl records a decade ago.
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My collection and setup have vastly grown and changed over the years, but I've learned through trial and error the best devices to make your records produce that crisp vinyl sound we know and love. My very first record player was a portable Crosley suitcase player. Learn from my own mistakes and steer clear of suitcase vinyl players, because they don't include a counterweight, which can cause your records to be damaged over time.
After scratching one too many records with bad record players, now I have a complete vinyl setup of high-quality products. If you're interested in getting started on your own setup, here are the best devices like turntables and speakers I recommend for those looking to get started. Some of the picks on this list are expensive, so we've included some affordable alternatives as well.
For first- or second-time turntable buyers, I recommend the Audio-Technica AT-LP70X. This turntable comes in either a standard or Bluetooth model, depending on how modern you want your setup to be.
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Aside from the clear, room-filling sound it produces on both new and older records alike, what impresses me the most about this turntable is its vibration isolation. The AT-LP70X is built with a three-piece, anti-resonance chassis that provides a solid foundation for dampening unwanted noise or vibrations while improving sound quality.
It has a built-in phono preamp to directly connect to speakers, a belt-drive design, a sturdy J-shaped tonearm, and the AT-VM95C phono cartridge, which Audio-Technica says can be switched out with other VM95 series styli (such as the AT-VMN95E and the AT-VM).
I made these speakers my top pick for the best speakers for vinyl, and for good reason. They have a built-in phono pre-amp so you can use them with an older turntable, but they also have Bluetooth connectivity and Apple AirPlay technology for easy digital listening.
These bookshelf speakers can reach 180W of peak power, which is a lot of power for speakers of this size. I liked their full bass and transparent sound when listening to records and my Spotify playlists.
Plus, if you're super into customizing your experience, you can play around in the BluOS to change the equalizer (EQ) settings based on what you're listening to.
Just keep in mind that these speakers are expensive at $1,500 -- but to truly experience the richness of vinyl, you'll need a quality set of speakers.
If the PSB Alpha speakers are out of your price range, the Edifer R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Speakers are another set of bookshelf speakers I'd recommend at a much more affordable price of $190.
While my setup is a hand-me-down Pioneer receiver from my mother-in-law, ZDNET's Jack Wallen can recommend a more modern receiver in the Outlaw Audio RR 2160 Mk II Stereo Receiver. This receiver has all the connections and outputs you need, stellar bass management, bass and treble adjustments, and a sizable remote, but more importantly, the sound is really special.
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In Wallen's review, he said, "No matter what genre I threw at the amp, it delivered. Metal, classical, prog rock, shoegaze, you name it." He also noted the bass management in this receiver, which he referred to as "superb."
Again, you'll have to shell out $1,000 for a quality receiver like this, but if you want something cheaper, I'd also recommend the Sony STRDH190 2-ch Home Stereo Receiver, which only costs $200.
Sometimes you aren't able to crank up your speakers due to roommates, neighbors, or any other reason. In these cases, a pair of headphones will allow you to listen to your vinyl by yourself without disturbing others -- but not all headphones are created equally, especially with vinyl listening in mind.
Wallen said these Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro headphones were built for studio listening, and they do a good job at that. Since they are what is known as reference headphones (designed to provide a neutral and accurate audio reproduction as the recording was intended), you hear every crisp crackle in a vinyl record and the subtle sounds in a song you may not have noticed prior, fully enhancing your listening experience.
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Plus, it helps that these headphones are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.
None of these products will work if you're vinyl records aren't clean. Cleaning your records is essential to reducing dust and debris that can get caught in the stylus or damage the grooves of the vinyl.
Investing in a vinyl cleaning system like this one from Studebacker will extend the lifespan of your vinyls--even those old vintage ones from the '60s. I own this specific kit, and it cleans both sides of the record at once using brushes and a cleaning solution. I recommend cleaning a record when you first get it, and then maintaining cleaning as necessary.
My husband and I have been collecting vinyl records for a decade and have gone through multiple iterations of our vinyl setup in terms of different turntables, speakers, etc. I also test tech products for a living, so I have had the chance to go hands-on with a handful of turntables and speakers for vinyl to test in my own home.
All the products I have listed here I either own, have tested, or another ZDNET writer has tested and recommends.
From time to time, you may need to switch out the needle on the cartridge of your turntable. To do this, pinch the cartridge's sides and gently pull out the stylus (needle). Then, position the new stylus with the needle pointing downward and away from the tonearm and slide it into the cartridge, pressing into it until you hear it click.
Be gentle throughout the process since the stylus is delicate and can be damaged easily. To keep your stylus working its best, be sure to clean it often with a stylus brush to get rid of dust buildup.
If you're truly starting out from scratch on your vinyl journey, there are a few terms you should become familiar with, especially when it comes to your setup and preferences.
Plinth:Also sometimes referred to as the cabinet or chassis, the plinth is the main component that holds all of the other parts of the record player together. It's the square or rectangle box that everything else usually sits on top of.
Platter:The circular surface that spins and where the actual record is placed.
Counterweight:A weight at the opposite end of the tonearm from the cartridge that allows you to adjust the weight placed on the cartridge to reduce wear on your stylus (the actual needle).
Tonearm: The tonearm holds the cartridge and allows it to glide through the grooves as the record spins effortlessly. There are three types of tonearm shapes: straight, J-shaped, and S-shaped.
Cueing level: The cueing level makes it so that the tonearm lifts and drops slowly, so you don't damage the stylus.
Cartridge: The cartridge holds the stylus and is located at the end of the tonearm. Converts the vibrations into audio.
Phono Preamp: An audio component that connects the record player and the amplifier. It boosts the audio signal to a level that can be played through your sound system.
RPM: Stands for revolutions per minute and describes the different types of records. Records are classified as 78, 33 1/3, and 45. You'll mostly find records that are 33 1/3 RPM or 45 RPM.
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