So, you’re ready to start a vinyl collection?
Vinyl records are very much in right now, and lots of people are turning their backs on digital music in favor of hard copies of their favorite songs. However, vinyls are notoriously difficult to look after and keep in good condition. Are you completely new to these types of records? If so, then read on for everything you need to know before you start your new collection!
The Best Turntable
There are lots of different turntables out there that you could buy. Knowing which one is best for your needs is important as getting the right turntable will really help to improve your music listening. If you aren’t a big music aficionado, then you will be able to find a model at a fairly reasonable price, and will probably be happy about the sound quality. However, if you are a big muso, you might want to splash out on a reputable brand, such as Crosley. If you want to DJ with your turntable, it’s important that you buy a direct drive one rather than a belt drive turntable.
Consider Investing In Speakers
You won’t need speakers to listen to records played on your turntable. However, in most cases, they will vastly improve the quality of sound. But if you do buy speakers, it’s important that you invest in some good ones as bad ones can actually reduce the quality of sound from your turntable. In some cases, they can actually distort it. Don’t forget to get the right audio connector for your turntable. You can find a selection at Vinyl Vintage that is suitable for a range of different turntable models. Even though most speakers will come with connectors, it’s a good idea to get a spare, just in case.
Learn About RPM
Think you’re ready to start playing all your vinyls? Not so fast! First of all, you need to learn about RPM so that you can play your records at the correct speed. RPM stands for ‘revolutions per minute’ and describes the number of times the record turns around on the turntable. Different vinyl records need to be played at different speeds. Generally speaking, 12-inch records have an RPM of 33 ⅓ while most EPs and singles have an RPM of 45.
Start Buying Your Records
Now that you’ve got your turntable up and running, it’s time to start adding records to your collection! If you buy brand new records, you will find that they are incredibly expensive, especially those that were originally released a few decades ago. Thankfully, though, there are a few ways you can find cheaper records. The best method is to buy them secondhand from record fairs and flea markets. You just need to make sure that the records are of a good quality before you buy them.
Collecting vinyl records is a great hobby, and you might even make a nice return on your money if you sell them at a later date.
Looks like it’s time to head to your nearest record fair!