The best record players allow you to enjoy your vinyl records the way they were meant to be enjoyed. Top record players coax a unique sound out of your record collection that brings back memories of a bygone era. Unlike old-fashioned players, the best modern turntables come with a number of additional features. For example, […]
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Other Buying Guides
Best Phono Preamp Under $500 (And Why Spending More Is Not Better)
Before you buy a phono preamp, make sure you even need one. Many modern record players have built-in preamps. As do many receivers. Of course, you might be looking to upgrade from the built-in models to something a little more capable. If neither your turntable nor your receiver has a quality preamp, then this makes […]
Best Portable Record Players (Reviews And Comparison Of Suitcase Turntables)
You’ll notice two things when you look at the best portable record players listed below. They are all suitcase style players and they all cost very little. Are there other portable turntables, besides the suitcase style models? Yes, but they are not specifically designed to be portable (we list a few toward the end of […]
Best Headphones For Vinyl (Buyer’s Guide And Reviews)
Nothing beats the sound of vinyl through a pair of high quality speakers. But sometimes, that is not an option. Maybe it’s late and your family or neighbors are sleeping. Or maybe the people around you simply can’t be disturbed at that moment. Luckily, this does not mean you can’t enjoy your music at all. […]
Record Player For Sampling: Best Turntables To Sample Vinyl
If you want to sample from vinyl records, you need a special turntable, right? No, not really. Any record player can be used for sampling, but some have certain features that make doing so easier. The primary such feature is a USB port, because it makes it possible to sample directly from vinyl to your […]
Record Player Tips & Advice
Why Are Turntables So Expensive?
Let’s clear one thing up right away. Not all turntables are expensive. There are plenty of record players that sell for under $100. Naturally, those are not very good. You can get some great record players for a few hundred dollars. These are perfectly fine for most people. If you want to get the best […]
What Is A Turntable Cartridge? (Everything You Need To Know)
Do you want your records to sound better? Then get a new cartridge. Seriously, this is the best record player upgrade you can make. Nothing else gives you more bang for your buck, especially if you currently have a stock cartridge. A high quality cartridge makes a world of difference. But what is a turntable […]
What Is A Direct Drive Turntable? (And Is It Better?)
“You need a belt drive turntable. Direct drive is crap!” “What? Direct is much more precise. And it doesn’t break!” Even if you haven’t gotten in the middle of one of these arguments, those lines should give you an idea of how strong people’s opinions can be. Most have a clear preference and will never […]
Record Player Sounds Distorted (Possible Causes And Fixes)
Several issues could cause a record player to sound distorted. Most are easy to diagnose and many are also easy to fix. We’ll help you with both. But before that, we highly recommend asking somebody else to take a listen first. Sound issues can be very subjective. You might think it sounds off, but others […]
Record Player Playing Too Fast (How To Diagnose And Fix It)
Think your record player is spinning too fast? There is a good chance it’s not. You might swear that some pitches seem high or the sound is distorted. But sometimes it’s your ears that are off, not the sound. And once you get it into your mind that your record player is too fast, you […]
How To Tell If A Record Is A First Pressing
There’s something you should know. Actually, you probably already know it. First pressings are often not that good. For many older records, reissues sound much better. But well-preserved first pressings can be valuable. And you’re probably asking this question because you’re hoping you have one of those on your hands. Determining whether a record is […]
How To Ship A Turntable (To Ensure It Arrives In One Piece)
It’s always scary. Sending anything valuable by mail makes me nervous. Especially when it is something as delicate as a turntable. By now, we’ve all seen the videos of mail sorters, mail carriers, delivery drivers, etc. mishandling packages. They make little money, work exhausting hours under a lot of pressure and simply do not care […]
Do Powered Speakers Need An Amp?
This is a strange question. You’re probably asking it because you heard that you’ll need an amplifier to go with your speakers. And that is true. For some speakers. Specifically, you need an amplifier for passive speakers. But if you have powered speakers, or are thinking of buying some, think about what the word ‘powered’ […]
Built In Preamp Vs External For Turntable (Which Should You Get?)
It’s the age-old question. Do you save money, or spend more for quality? Or the other age-old question. Do you go for ease and convenience, or go with the more complicated option for better quality? Either way, you have to decide how important sound quality is to you. Because that is the primary difference between […]
How To Tell If A Turntable Needle Is Bad
Is something off with the sound of your record player? A number of issues could be causing this. Among them is a bad needle. If your stylus has gone bad, we strongly recommend replacing it immediately, before it does permanent damage to your records. But how do you know if a turntable needle is bad? […]