Vinyl’s biggest seller The point is not the sound. It is the physical experience: shiny, delicate plates; liner notes writing large; cover you want to frame and hang on your wall; and the way the pen rotates across the jagged surface, reproducing the music of your favorite artists as if by magic.
Maybe you’ve always been interested in building a setup to listen to LPs and 45s, but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re like WIRED’s review editor Julian Chokkattu, who owned a record but no record player to play it on. Maybe you’re just looking for an upgrade. No problem: There are tons of great turntables to choose from, and most of them can be easily connected to the sound system you already own. I have tested a number of options, and these are my current favorites – from utilitarian, budget-friendly classics to more luxurious options for those seeking sound in sound quality.
Be sure to check out our other audio guides, including the best music learning equipment and the best podcasting equipment.
Updated July 2022: We have added Monolith by Monoprice 600045.
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