Qualities to Look For in a Record Player

First created and introduced as phonographs in the 19th century, record players were popularized throughout the 20th century.

18:46 14 February 2021

They were later replaced by CDs, making them almost extinct for several years. However, in recent years, record players have made a comeback among music enthusiasts and seekers of nostalgia, encouraging many modern brands to produce new varieties of this vintage music machine. If you’re thinking of joining this old-fashioned yet elegant music listening movement, here are the qualities you need to look for when you’re out shopping for a top-notch record player.

 

• Sound Quality

 

The reason why record players have made a comeback in recent times is because of the purity and quality of the sound they offer, which is why it’s crucial to look for this trait when purchasing a record player. The factors that contribute to a higher quality of sound are the stylus (also known as the needle or tonearm), the materials used, and the audio components. The stylus is the most important item as it's the one that converts the vinyl’s printed music into sound. If you want a true, beautiful, and crisp sound, then investing in a record player with a high-quality stylus is the way to go.

 

• Portable and Non-Portable

 

Choosing between a portable and non-portable record player usually depends on your preferences and usage. However, it’s important to note the pros and cons of these two variations. Portable record players are a great choice if you’re someone who likes to listen to their records in different locations. The musicians at toprecordplayers.com/best-record-player recommend portable record players for people with music-related professions such as DJs as it’s more suitable to their lifestyle. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t need these things and prefers their record player to stay in one place—and have better sound quality—then non-portable record players are a better option. Usually, portable record players are made to be lightweight, which increases unwanted vibrations and affects the sound quality, making them more flimsy. Non-portable ones, on the other hand, are more sturdy and solid and are able to perfectly convey a vinyl’s intricate and delicate vibrations.

 

• Tone Arm

 

Currently, record players can come in three different levels: fully automated, semi-automated, and manual. The difference between these three types of record players is that a fully automated record player has a tonearm that moves back and forth between the record and its initial resting position automatically, which means no manual intervention is needed. As for semi-automatic ones, they usually need you to manually place the stylus on the record to play but will go back to their initial place automatically. Finally, manual record players have styluses that need you to manually move both towards the record and back to their initial positions. Your choice between these three options will heavily depend on how much interaction you want to have with your record player. However, as a rule of thumb, if you want better sound quality, opt for a manual one as automated ones can add noise interruptions to the sound.

 

• Inputs and Outputs

 

While many go for record players for their analog features, many modern varieties of this music player don a myriad of audio inputs and outputs to listen and share music in different ways. If you like to sometimes listen to your vinyl record through headphones to immerse yourself in the music, then looking for a player with a headphone input is your best option. There are also many record players that sport an ‘all-in-one’ feature where it allows you to play music regardless of the audio and storage format. You can play your CDs, tapes, MP3 files, and vinyl records on the same player. Other features that many people look for are the USB and Bluetooth features as they allow music lovers to convert their vinyl music into MP3 audio format and also allows them to play the music on their phone through the player. All in all, whichever of these features you decide to choose, know that they are all great for listening to music in different ways.

 

There you have it! These are the qualities and features you should look for in record players. Record players are a great way for you to listen to music as they convey songs in higher quality. Moreover, with the more modern features, you can play the music on all of your formats through one machine. Make sure to choose the player that suits your situation best, and buy some protective accessories for it as well.