Listening to vinyl is a great way to unwind and appreciate your music in a new way, as you can often hear more details and experience a warmer, livelier sound that digital music just can’t recreate. So, what do I, a vinyl newbie, recommend for other vinyl newbies?

First off, you’re going to need a turnable, receiver and speakers. That is one downside, it can get very expensive very quickly. I was lucky my parents had most of this stuff in storage, but I still had to purchase an adapter, due to my receiver and turntable being so far apart in age (the turntable itself is 30 years old).

However, you can still get a good turntable with built in speakers for a decent price, eliminating your need for a receiver. These can be found at Walmart for as low as $75, although if your budget can take it, I’d recommend going higher. 

More expensive turntables are heavier, meaning they can better absorb vibrations, resulting in better sound quality. Their tonearms (the thing that holds the needle) are also far more precise, again allowing for better audio. The needles are also better made, resulting in less wear and tear on your records.

That’s another thing: wear and tear. Records are fragile, so you need to treat them with utmost care. 

You should never leave your records sitting out, they’re either in their case, or they’re spinning on the turntable.

Whenever you handle them, never let your fingers touch the grooves. This will dirty them up, which could cause skipping or distortion.

To remove a record from its sleeve without damaging it, let one end slide into the crease between your thumb and pointer finger. Use your pointer and middle fingers to hold the center of the record, which is safe to touch.

Once you’ve taken out your record, you can hold both edges of it with the palms of your hands and then safely place it on the turntable.

Of course, your music quality will only be as good as your record itself. Vinyls range in weight from 40 grams to 180 grams and typically, the heavier the better. A 180 gram record, which holds an album’s worth of music, is more durable than its lighter weight counterparts and helps the needle ride smoother.

The heavier records are more expensive however, so whenever you’re shopping around, don’t freak out if you see the same record for two very different prices.

One more thing, the records themselves can get expensive. Because vinyls can only hold so much music, longer albums (like “ABBA Gold” which I will get my hands on) that require more records are more expensive than shorter albums. And of course, record stores will charge you a pretty penny for rare records too.

I know all of this sounds a bit overwhelming (and quite frankly, pricey) and it is, but I can’t recommend it enough. I love hearing the subtle details digital music skips out on and I feel so much more connected with my favorite artists after a good listen. This is a fun and rewarding hobby I recommend to everyone.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment