So you’ve got your first record player. You’ve been listening to your shiny new vinyl records, and you’re loving the extra tactility and warm sound that comes from the analog experience — but there’s something missing.
Believe me, I know how that feels. Welcome to a hobby that demands not just your time but a lot of your money.
I joke, but there are some extra gadgets you should add to your arsenal beyond one of the best record players to get the most out of your vinyl collection. They’re not even that expensive (well, not all of them).
Here’s my top record player accessories picks.
Keep it clean!
Vinyl records are about as analog as audio gets. The needle follows the groove and makes vibrations based on their profile. It’s like magic in motion, making sound from a microscopic wiggly line. But there’s a problem.
If there’s any dust, muck, or grime on your record, the needle can get fouled up. That means annoying snaps, crackles, and pops. That’s… not good. It can even wear down the stylus, so you’ll have to replace it more often.
Enter the vinyl cleaning kit. There are a couple you can get hold of — a couple of my favorites are the Pro-Ject Brush-it and Clean-it brushes or the brand new Goldring “EXTRACT” Stylus cleaning kit. Keep your records and your vinyl clean to make sure they’re always sounding their best!
Effectively, you’ll at least want an anti-static cleaning brush for your discs and then a small anti-static cleaner for the stylus.
Keep it flat
You’ve just been to a record fair and come home with your new collection of old records. You pop your new-to-you copy of “Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying” on your player, sit back and hit play. But it sounds… bad!?
It’s all wobbly and woozy. It keeps changing speed, and Dave Mustaine sounds even more off-key than usual. Your record is warped!
That only means it's a bit bendy, which is carried through into the sound you hear. To try and fix this, one of the best things you can buy is a record clamp. It’s a kind of weight that you pop on the spindle of your player to flatten out a warped record.
They’re great. They’re also good for making sure that even unwarped records keep better time, as there’s no chance of the record moving around on the platter. My favorite is Pro-Ject’s “Clamp-It!”, but there are some other excellent options out there.
A new cartridge
Between the record and your ears, there are a couple of different things that the sound has to travel through before you can enjoy your music. The first thing in the signal chain is the cartridge — the bit that translates the wiggly groove into listenable sound.
A cartridge upgrade on a beginner turntable is a great way to get even better sound. It’ll house a better stylus and then more impressive internals. One of the best beginner upgrades over the standard cartridge in cheaper turntables is Goldring's excellent E3.
It’s a well-priced cartridge and brings some extra detail and control to your music.
One thing to double-check before buying a new cartridge is whether you can change out the unit. Some models have built-in cartridges. To find out, look for screws on top of the headshell at the end of the tone arm, and then a series of four wires coming out of the back of your stylus assembly.
Some new speakers
So many new vinyl listeners end up with a turntable that features (shudder) built-in speakers. They’re fine — they play your records. But they can sound so much better.
The best way is to go and grab yourself a pair of powered speakers. Even the cheapest record players have RCA connectors on the back so that you can plug it in to superior sound makers.
There are options for every budget. One of my favorites is the spectacular Fluance Ri71i if you’re looking to spend around $400. But those on a budget should look at the Edifier MR4.
Abolish static
Vinyl is a fickle beast. We’ve already talked about how dirt and muck can ruin the sound of your precious discs, but another enemy is waiting in the wings. Static.
Static can produce unwanted audio artifacts when you’re listening to music, as well as produce annoying noises during playback. To eliminate static, you’ll want an anti-static gun.
How cool is this? You just point the Milty Zerostat 3 at your record, and pull the trigger. Bam! Static gone. It’s a great addition to make sure that your records sound amazing.
