The Best Turntables for Your Vinyl Collection

Vinyl Hearing Accessories and Tips

Photo: Art Pro Audio

The main accessory that the turntable may need is the record preamp before plugging into the system, if it is not built-in. The phono preamp takes the natural quiet signal of the turntable and raises it to the line level – the level you want for your stereo level for CD players, tape decks and digital devices. The phonograph signal is usually passed to the amplifier via the red and white RCA inputs on the back. There are many good cheap options for phono preamps. We like Art DJPREII ($65). this Volume VP29 ($59) It’s another good person Turning around Pluto 2 ($109) The same one built in some of its top turntables. I won’t spend less than $50, but you don’t need to spend crazy money either. You can skip those costs hundreds of dollars until you have a better turntable, but if you want to upgrade further, I like Cambridge Audio ALVA SOLO PREAMP ($199).

If you want super simple speakers, pair it with your luxury turntable (especially track theory) Turn-around Spirit Speaker ($449) It’s an interesting choice. Reviewer Ryan Waniata initially admitted to lowering expectations. Their design is stout and stylish, but has no apps or remote, and lacks input (only 3.5mm, RCA and Bluetooth 5.1) offers less versatility than most powered bookshelf speakers. The small buzz on the power supply is a clear sign of their effective toroidal transformer, while A/B amplification keeps the vinyl in the simulation field. Their sweet sound signature provides depth, instrumental texture and hasty dynamics. He likes their records, like my preferred tester, Brubeck Take 5though he wishes there were some equations to relax on the pressure of the brighter Japanese Beatles. On friction. You will get modest input and controls, but if you are going to boldly simulate simplicity in the purest way, the spirit will pass on.

Photo: Ryan Waniata

If you want more adaptable speakers, you’ll be at our The best bookshelf speakers and The best audiophile equipment Guide (also linked above), as well as amplifiers and other gears.

The other basics you need are related to maintenance and setup. You want one Record brush (usually included in the turntable), A way to clean a stylusand One level Make sure the turntable is set correctly. Check This video Before playing the first record, check out exactly what you need to do. Additionally, Wired Contribution editor Chris Haslam is currently testing record-breaking incorrect devices, so we’ll be sure that if it ends up working as planned, add as soon as possible.

Finally, if you need a place to store all the LPs and 45s you are buying, try Flipbin. The company has made beautiful desktop bins to display and protect your records safely. Check out our The best vinyl accessories Guide to get more.