Whether the recent (to this posting) holidays, a birthday, or just purchasing it for yourself, you have come into ownership of a...

LP

Vinyl

Record

Wax

or otherwise! Lotta of names, all the same. Nice! This kind of object is coveted for its audio quality and its vintage feel, as well as the beautiful album artwork that comes with it! 

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What now?

How to make the most of a recently purchased vinyl

I'm no stranger to vinyl. I own a decently sized collection of vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, and the audio equipment to play them. Below is my setup, albeit a little outdated (only by a few months).

Do you need all this to play that shiny new 12" record you got? Not really. You don't necessarily need to spend an extreme amount of money to make the most of this admittedly niche form of music enjoyment. You absolutely could just drop 50-100 bucks on a crappy Crosely or Victrola record player, either the little briefcases or the big boxy wooden ones. You could even buy a pair of speakers to plug into it so you can bypass the horrible speakers they come with as a way to dip your toes into the world of vinyl, and lots of people do. There is no shame in starting small to see if you want more.

THAT BEING SAID...

I assure you that if you REALLY enjoy the idea of collecting vinyl and playing it, you'll find that you will be craving more shortly, more than this kind of setup will provide. In fact, Croselys and Victrolas are some of the worst record players I've had the displeasure of using. Poor build quality, poor sound quality, and completely unfriendly regarding repair- they're a mess!!! 

So as a new buyer, how can you enjoy your record without breaking the bank??

The answer is surprisingly simple: BUY USED 

Lots of record stores, furniture stores, and even thrift stores will have used record players at a discount. That being said, it's important to make sure they work first. eBay is also a fantastic choice. In the end, though, you'll be looking at about 100 USD for a decent record player. That money is worth it though. With it, you'll understand why people spend so much on vinyl. The audio quality surpasses digital, the artwork is gorgeous, and it makes for a tremendous way to support your favorite bands!

Good record player brands include Audio-Technica, Yamaha, Sony, and Denon, but there are FAR more out there. Don't be afraid to ask questions and search around for brand reviews so you can find what works for you! It's important to note that some of these record players require external equipment, such as amps, and all require speakers or a way to listen to the music. A pair of headphones is fine, but still, speakers are better, so when shopping, check what other equipment they might require so you can save. In the end, you'll be glad you went out of your way to buy a nice turntable so you can REALLY get the most out of a vinyl record of your favorite band.

Where do you go from here?

Well, let's talk record care. First of all, the albums themselves are soft vinyl, and that means too much pressure or heat will damage the little grooves that play the music you so love to hear. To protect your albums, keep them on their covers! Don't bend them, don't stack things on them, and for the love of GOD don't leave them in your car in the sun. THEY WILL MELT!!!!

Storing albums is thankfully easy! just stand them up like a book and let them lean on something. This keeps them in good quality so they'll always sound great. In the end, just treat them with care! You can buy record cleaning kits EASILY and CHEAPLY. They usually come with a brushpad, a brush for cleaning that brushpad, and then a solution to spray onto the brushpad to use on the record. Keeping them clean helps protect the needle on the record player, which can be a pain to a replace if it gets damaged.

In conclusion, The best way to make the most out of vinyl is to invest in it. Invest the time to handle them carefully and the money to make sure that you are hearing them the way they are meant to be heard.

ENJOY!