![]() They're typically made from diamond or sapphire (or plastic in some cases) and are either spherical/conical or elliptical. StylusĮver wondered how a turntable plays music? It uses a refined stylus (or needle if you’d prefer) that sits on the record and reads the ridges and grooves, translating that physical data into sound. Often, the turntable will have a pitch-shift slider to mix records at different speeds, just like your favourite DJ, but others will have a speed setting with no option to change mid-song. The old standard of 78 rpm (rotations per minute) still features across some current players in case you’ve got some valuable pre-Forties records, but the modern trend is to run at either 45 or 33 ⅓ rpm, so all you'll need is a turntable that can play at least the two slower speeds if your collection is a bit more recent, whereas you’ll need to invest a bit more heavily to find the faster speeds. High-end turntables will have aptX HD which increases the quality to near-lossless music. Many Bluetooth models use what’s called aptX transfer. In fact, you’d have to have a top-spec set of speakers and a trained ear to notice the difference. This is wrong though, as Bluetooth has got so good it beams audio data almost instantly so you don’t skip a beat. Retro purists will tell you to ignore modern Bluetooth turntables, as the current myth is that the switch from an analogue signal to digital data can mean you lose some sound quality. Going with wired headphones? You’ll want a gold-plated phono jack for the best quality, and you might want to keep an eye out for players with USB ports that let you connect laptops, PCs, and phones so you can digitally record your vinyl or play from a preferred streaming service. Most record players have a high-quality phono jack for speakers, and even Bluetooth models will have one in case you want to go manual or connect the best headphones or portable speakers. Many record players won’t have internal speakers to blast your tunes so you’ll need a deck that lets you hook up external speakers. Regardless of what you choose, White’s advice is to make sure you get a weighty platter to reduce vibrations, so go for whichever material is most pleasing to you. Take a trip to any vinyl forum online and you’ll find entrenched battle lines over which material is best, but honestly, we don’t think it impacts the musical quality that much. Well, it’s the plate you put the record on and it’s often made of aluminium, felt, rubber, cork, or a type of plastic. Still not sure which type of turntable is best for you or don’t know your platters from your rpms? Here’s everything you need to know before buying a new record player. Want to read more about how to pick the best turntable for you? We’ve explained everything you need to know below our list. With that in mind, we have selected a variety of our favourite record players you can buy to breathe new life into your LP collection in 2023 and (temporarily, perhaps) make you forget that music streaming was ever invented. Make sure you get one with a “weighty platter and a solid tonearm, which will reduce unwanted vibrations, giving improved sound quality”. So what’s White’s top tip for picking the best record player? He reckons the most important thing overall is the build quality. With Bluetooth pairing, automatic playback, and eco-conscious materials, there’s a lot to consider, whether you’re a veteran jockey or a nervous novice. It can feel like there’s a lot to wrap your head around. These are the best record players we'd recommend in 2023:īut before we start dissecting the merits of needles and plates, it's worth knowing that the world of the turntable has evolved over the years. ![]() ![]() We’ve researched and been hands-on with the top turntables, plus got some killer advice from Neil White, purchasing category manager of hi-fi and AV at Richer Sounds, to find the best options for all budgets and tastes. Not only have UK vinyl sales been hitting record highs, with millions selling every year, but the rate of decline in CDs is slowing. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry: that's where we come in.Įven as the best streamers offer huge libraries of music in convenient subscription packages, records are thriving as music lovers refuse to give up on physical formats – including CD players, MP3 players and Blu-ray players. The best players look and sound so good that even Keith Richards would think twice about smashing them up. The boom is at its proverbial loudest right now and it’s time you thought about upgrading your home audio set-up to make the most of your record collection. If there’s one thing audiophiles agree on, it’s that music sounds better on vinyl.
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