“See how that works and then if you see yourself wanting something better, you can upgrade slowly down the line,” explains Mike Davis, owner of New York City’s Academy Records. Most of the record players below contain a built-in preamp - more on what that means below - because our experts say that’s the easiest and most straightforward setup to use. While a record player is self-contained and will play vinyl without any other equipment, the sound quality is typically poor a turntable and speakers (like Audioengine’s A2+) will give you a purer-sounding analog home-audio system.

Our experts had different recommendations for beginners, but they all advised avoiding one very popular all-in-one record player that comes in a suitcase: “Whatever you do, don’t get a Crosley,” says DJ Prestige of the DJ-focused website Fleamarket Funk, who says that if you’re serious about your new hobby, you should look for machines with better sound quality - and with needles that won’t “eventually ruin your records.” In practice, that means avoiding not just a Crosley, but most if not all record players. Our experts also recommend sticking to familiar, reputable brands. To get an entry-level turntable that won’t cause damage and has good sound quality, expect to spend between $250 and $500. But the cheapest options raise instant red flags for our experts because they can damage your records. But according to the experts we spoke with - including DJs, record-store owners, and vinyl geeks - all you need is a turntable with a preamp, a few records, and speakers to get started.Ī top-of-the-line turntable can easily carry a thousand-dollar price tag.

The world of vinyl records, like any niche hobby, can be intimidating to the uninitiated.

Media player classic standalone