VINYL GEAR BUYER GUIDES

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Choosing the right vinyl and Hi-Fi gear doesn’t have to be difficult.

Even better, a great sounding setup doesn’t have to break the bank, and it’s entirely possible to enjoy a terrific vinyl Hi-Fi experience on a budget.  

We’ve helped countless vinyl enthusiasts improve their setup and achieve the best possible experience at any budget. 

View our many buyer guides and see how you could improve your setup today. 

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Most Popular Buyer Guides

Marc Henshall

Best Phono Preamps 2023: Amazing Sound at Any Budget

Our roundup of the best phono stage options. We’ve got you covered: From budget phono preamps that kickstart your vinyl journey to high-end options designed to suit the true vinyl connoisseur. If you own a turntable, you’ll need a phono stage somewhere in your setup to boost the very low output of your turntable cartridge and apply equalization based on

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Marc Henshall

Best Tube Phono Preamps to Suit Any Budget

In most other industries, vacuum tubes have gone the way of the dodo, replaced by more sturdy and durable transistor-based circuits.  Audio equipment, both for consumer HiFi use and professional studio recording gear, is a different story. In the world of audio, vacuum tubes still hold a place in the hearts of audiophiles for their unique sound characteristics. Tube phono

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Marc Henshall

The Best Turntables & Record Players to Suit Any Budget in 2023

Enthusiasm for music on vinyl shows no sign of stalling. Sales of vinyl records continue to climb year-on-year, with revenues now out-performing CDs in what can only be described as the comeback of the century. Despite the convenience and abundance of digital streaming, it can never replace the joy of owning a physical piece of music and the full experience

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Marc Henshall

Best Speakers for Vinyl Records – Affordable Options in 2023

Make your records sing with the best speakers for vinyl records that won’t break the bank. The speakers are your turntable’s voice to the world. If you’re lucky enough to have a nice turntable or record player, you want to do it justice with a nice set of speakers. And while I always say the first part of the audio

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Marc Henshall

Best Bluetooth Turntables in 2023

As a format that celebrates all things analog, a Bluetooth turntable or record player might seem like an odd choice. After all, doesn’t that negate some of the point in the first place? No matter what your view on Bluetooth sound quality, the fact remains, as vinyl records continue to grow in popularity, the convenience of wireless connectivity on a

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Marc Henshall

Best Turntable Isolation Platform: Buyer’s Guide

Vibration and resonance are the enemies of many vinyl enthusiasts. At best, it clouds the audio output, hindering your listening enjoyment. Worse still, it can disturb your stylus enough to knock it straight out of the groove during playback. There are many ways to guard your turntable against vibrations and resonance, from choosing the right turntable position to upgrading your

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Best turntable mats feature image
Marc Henshall

Best Turntable Mats for Improved Sound Quality

At first, changing a record mat can seem like a mere aesthetic upgrade. After all, can the material between your records and the turntable platter really make a difference to the sound?  The truth is, everything affects the sound when it comes to a physical format like vinyl!  Choosing the right turntable mat can make a significant difference to the performance of

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Marc Henshall

The Best Vintage Turntables for Audiophiles

Buying a vintage turntable can offer many advantages over shiny new decks fresh off the production line. First and foremost, going vintage can make obtaining a higher-quality turntable more affordable. The potential to grab a bargain will undoubtedly appeal to many record collectors, as, let’s face it, HiFi audio and record collecting isn’t exactly the cheapest of hobbies. When choosing

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Jack Kinnersley

11 Best Turntables with Built-in Preamp

In the age of convenience, setting up a turntable can seem like hard work compared with the convenience of streaming. The good news is, it’s worth it. Vinyl is arguably the best, most engaging way to experience music. Even better, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Gone are the days where built-in preamps sound terrible, and while separate audio components

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