How to Choose the Right Turntable
Vinyl sales have grown exponentially over the past 12 years – 2017 was a record year (pun intended). Vinyl accounted for 14% of all physical album sales, up from 11% in 2016, according to Nielsen Music . Vinyl is back baby! It was a long time ago, and if you would like to play the game (or update your player. I see you, not newbies), let us help. Here’s how to find the perfect turntable for you.
Learn the basics
What is a turntable? What parts? What are these parts doing? This may sound daunting, but the better you understand what a turntable is made of, the more likely you are to make an informed purchase. This isn’t just for novice shoppers – experts need to know what they’re looking for before going into the market (digital or otherwise). Here’s a helpful drawing from ThingLink. ( If you visit their site here, the image becomes interactive with a breakdown of what each module does).
Or learn some basics (basics)
Some of us don’t have time for all of the above, and that’s okay! But make sure you have some idea of what you are getting yourself into, for example: the record or plate is the big round hinge in the middle, the stylus is a tiny piece that actually hits the vinyl record and is often referred to as the “needle” of the arm connects the needle and the head (a triangular device that connects the needle to the body of the turntable) and so on. Some literacy about turntables can go a long way, especially when determining which machine you want to invest in.
Define your needs
Is this your first turntable that you plan to experiment and use infrequently? Are you a DJ who will depend on this device? Are you a record collector and audiophile, someone who wants to spend a lot of money on a turntable that they’ll use quite regularly, someone who appreciates analog sound quality the most? Your needs differ based on experience – if you’re a beginner, you probably don’t want to spend a thousand on your first turntable. Perhaps you value aesthetics (in this case, Urban Outfitters is not a bad place to shop). If you are a DJ, you will most likely need a turntable with direct drive functionality. You will also want to connect to external devices (like mixers or computers) via USB. If you are a die-hard connoisseur of sound, you want to spend more on something of high quality – that “warmth” that vinyl nerds talk about.
Determine if you are going to switch to manual or automatic mode.
This may seem like a really specific and minor choice, but you have to take it into account! The automatic turntables raise the tonearm and place it on the record for you. It’s pretty darn convenient, but it also means there is more room for malfunction. Hand turntables, on the contrary – you raise the tonearm and put the stylus on the record yourself. It’s less complicated and requires more from the user, but if you like being in control of doing it yourself, then this is the right way to go. If you are nervous about placing the needle on the record, you may want to use a vending machine.
Consider accessories and stereos in general
A turntable without a speaker is just expensive hardware: it has to be paired with quality speakers (well, technically, any type of speaker) to play sound, unless you’re investing in a cheap built-in speaker device. … (This is exactly what it sounds like: turntables with built-in speakers.) There is nothing wrong with that, but these turntables are mostly made for portability, not for constant use at home. Just know that a reliable speaker system can also return you from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars.
Decide how much space your sound system will take up in your life
It’s easy to forget about it, but the turntables are big. Stereo systems are often bigger! Vinyl takes up so much space and they are damn heavy – how much space are you willing to allocate for that? They don’t call it hardware for nothing.
Make a budget
You might think this will happen sooner, but knowing what to look for is half the battle, and the other half is the actual purchase. Are you satisfied with the lower level turntable and basic speaker system? Or are you looking for something extravagant with huge monitors that looks like live music? You can get ready to spend anywhere from $ 200 to thousands and thousands of dollars ($ 200 is a turntable with a built-in speaker for your dorm room, not a practical budget for the savvy music lover).
Check out some popular titles
Similar to the iPhone that you probably read this on and purchase for convenience, if you are not a turntable fan, you might consider purchasing a fairly common turntable popular for its affordability and functionality. If something goes wrong, chances are there is someone nearby who can fix it. We also have a handy guide to the best turntables on the market.
Don’t forget about second hand
And eBay! If you’re married to the idea of buying a high-quality turntable and can’t afford it, consignment stores are your best bet. Just be sure to test the item before buying. When shopping online, you have to take risks, but sometimes the finds are worth it.
If in doubt, ask a professional
There is no shame in asking for more help – after all, you are making an investment – and there are people who have experience. Music stores are always a good resource and can probably be useful to your business. If not, then a good friend with fundamental knowledge in this area should also be effective.