Main points
- Start with the ideal setup depending on your goals and level of commitment to Hi-Fi or casual listening.
- Budget and plan for multiple components in your setup, knowing that the turntable is only one part of the equation.
- High-fidelity playback involves physical wear and tear on components like nibs and records, so be prepared for maintenance.
Buying your first record player can be daunting, with so many makes, styles, models, and price points to choose from—and it’ll have you spinning faster than a 7-inch mono record player. As a vinyl lover myself, I’ve put together a list of things to consider before you bite the bullet.
I replaced my $450 turntable with a $300 model.The thing is like this
The $300 Fluance RT82 puts every penny where it’s meant to be spent, and doesn’t skimp on sound or features.
1 Start with the ideal setup
Do you want something upgradeable or just for casual listening?
According to reports in 2023, only 50% of vinyl record buyers owned a record player called Luminate in the past 12 months. Many people collect records for aesthetics or as a “merchandise” of their favorite artists and then choose to hang them on their walls or display them around their home. For others, it’s a full-fledged Hi-Fi hobby, so that begs the question: What are your goals in finding your first record player?
If you want to play records casually without caring too much about Hi-Fi or audio technicalities, you’ll likely appreciate a simple turntable with a built-in preamp or even Bluetooth connectivity. That said, it doesn’t matter if you worry about whether the cartridges are upgradeable.
Why I Won’t Give Up My Audio-Technica Turntable
It’s been three years and I haven’t deviated from the budget-yet-powerful AT-LP120XUSB for a reason.
However, if you’re already considering your first turntable as your first step into the world of hi-fi and vinyl collecting, then you’ll want to make sure you buy one that can grow with you. The easiest way to accomplish this is to buy a desk that doesn’t include a built-in preamp, or at least allows you to bypass it entirely and use your own external preamp.
You could spend a lifetime upgrading and learning better and better preamps, so this versatility will come in handy. The same goes for table tonearms that don’t use a fixed cartridge. Ultimately, you want a turntable that allows you to upgrade the cartridge as your tastes and ears change.
2 Your turntable is only part of the equation
A complete vinyl record setup requires multiple parts working together
Author’s Rega Fono MM MK5
When budgeting or planning for your first record player, it’s important to remember that the turntable itself is only one component of a complete record player setup. Depending on whether you have a record player with a built-in preamp, and whether you choose to use it, your setup will have up to four separate devices, even for a beginner’s setup.
Beginner’s Guide to the Perfect Turntable Setup: 4 Key Points
Based on my experience as a vinyl enthusiast, these are the 4 accessories you need to build a beginner vinyl setup.
Therefore, you need to budget and plan your space accordingly as starting this hobby will take up a lot of space in your balance sheet and living room.
3 Analog fidelity means physical wear and tear
Some parts may have a limited service life
When you’re trying to get into high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) technology, remember that it’s an analog method of playing music. There are physical moving parts, each with a limited lifespan, that are used to reproduce the sounds in the record. The most obvious examples are your stylus and the record itself.
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Upon closer listening, these speakers impress with their sound and style.
The act of the stylus pressing against the record groove will eventually cause both parts of the equation to wear out. Most entry-level oval stylus tips (commonly found on entry-level desks) are rated for about 300 hours of playtime, while the higher-precision (and more expensive) MicroLine stylus is rated for about 1,000 hours of playtime. Depending on how often you play records, you may need to replace your stylus every year or every other year.
4 High-fidelity listening changes everything
High Fidelity Music is a vast world that can keep your attention for years
The last thing you should consider before going this route is that you’ve never heard hi-fi music before, which is entirely possible, especially if you’re 35 or younger. Of course, aside from live music, the only music your ears hear is from highly compressed digital audio files.
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Wired earbuds are back in fashion, bringing with them lossless audio—bringing CD-like sound quality into the streaming age.
Entering the world of Hi-Fi music, whether in lossless file formats or vinyl records, is all about understanding how music recorded in the studio actually sounds. When you first hear “Stairway to Heaven” on an old vinyl record, played through high-quality bookshelf speakers, and absorb every pluck of a string, every resonance of Robert Plant’s voice, every blow With the staccato pop and thump of the beat, it’s a transcendent experience. Therefore, you should consider that high-fidelity audio is an addictive hobby that can get you into trouble, and it can be expensive. That being said, you won’t regret it.