1. If you didn't know, vinyls are analog recordings which is what makes their sound more "real" and "better" than digital recordings of CDs and mp3 players. Analog uses the same pressure of the original sound while digital is a number of chopped up series but placed accordingly to the original sound, however they need to be converted back to the analog signal before listened to. All this conversion in the digital is what makes it sound "inferior" to the quality of analog since analog is basically what they make is what you hear. I used brackets because although analog sounds are meant to be better, not having a good system to play your vinyls will not make it sound better making you better off listening to mp3s. Although turntables have become a fad, never buy a turntable just because it looks cool without doing some more research. By buying a bad system, the system could potentially break down (even slowly), or worse (and more likely), damage your records. The sound from the bad system won't even be good, let alone better than digital, making it a complete waste of your money.
Just some basics about turntables: you will most likely need an amp, speakers, and turntable in order to be able to play and hear the vinyls. There are record players that like to add those all in one but I will not lie, it is thought that the quality will be much less especially if a player with all three built-in together for under $100. I am not saying do not buy it, but many professionals and experts I have spoken to say it will not be as good quality as buying these separately. It is like a camera; buying a camera with all different features for $100 will take decent pictures but the pictures will not be as good quality as a camera with more limited features that costs $300. That doesn't mean to say it isn't capable but more likely is not as good. The thing with turntables is that it isn't the price that determines quality but the products themselves.
Some tips I would recommend before buying to avoid wasting your money and actually getting the value from your buck would be to first, do some more research. As much as I hope I can help and answer questions with this post, it probably won't be enough and if you're serious you should look more into it. Even if you're interested, just ask a professional from an electronic section of the store just to get more insight (that's what I did about the amps and it helped to ask my own questions). Second, do not buy from somewhere that is not an electronic speciality of some sort. What I mean basically is do not buy a turntable from a clothing store. I don't feel like specifically naming one but if it's main thing is clothes and not electronics, do not buy it. It won't be good quality and you will probably overpay. Try not to buy a Crosely even if you're going to be a casual listener like me. I can not speak for all of Crosley's products but from what I've seen and read (reviews and excerpts from experts), their products (which are the three-in-one I mentioned earlier) are aesthetically beautiful but quality is terrible. Their stuff breaks easily, is made of plastic, doesn't last a long time, damages records, and sound isn't even "better" than digital. I myself have not used it but I would not waste time even buying it and then being disappointed when you can spend just $40 more and be satisfied. Those are just some basic tips but if you have any other questions just ask and I'll try to answer them! :)
2. When I first became interested in turntables I read that I would have to spend a minimum of $400 to be happy and get a quality product which was another reason I put off the hobby of vinyls off for so long. The fact is, you don't, especially if you're just a casual listener like I am. I bought the
Audio Technica AT-LP60 Fully Automatic Belt Driven Turntable with a mini amp and Dayton Audio Bookshelf Speakers. This turntable is not the best turntable out there to say the least, but, it is a great starter for novice listeners and is truly worth every dollar. The sound is great and it is easy to use. I bought all these as a package from Amazon so it all together was about $160 which is a lot better than $400. Here's a picture of the actual turntable I ordered:
It is pretty simple and doesn't have many features but I like it and like I said, it is great for novice listener. There are many out there which may be a better fit for you and are still in this price range so be sure to check them out to see what fits you best (and if you do let me know how it works for you!). Overall, the sound is great, it is easy to use, and I love it.
3. I don't want to take up too much space so I'll save my vinyl collection and other stuff for later posts but just some tips to continue this hobby is to look around! It is a great listening experience for audiophiles but it is also a hobby! Look around, check out local shops, see what you like. Check out some old classic rock hits or modern folk! Just remember to have fun with it. Most vinyls range from $3-$25 depending on quality. Most places rate the vinyl and cover on a scale from based on the quality of sound, scratches, etc.
Mint (M) | Near Mint (NM +/-) | Very Good Plus (VG+)| Very Good (VG) | Good/Good Plus (G+/G) | Poor/Fair (P/F)
To get a good sounding vinyl and nice cover, just check it out physically (if you are in a store and it doesn't have a rating) to check for the superficiality of the scratches, # of scratches, what shape, etc. Covers are the easiest because you can easily check if it is snowing (color/print rubbing of and becoming white) with just a gaze.
Now that I finally have a vinyl hopefully I can take pictures of hippie records I find and post them for you. :)
