CLEANING TOOLS
USING CARBON FIBRE BRUSH
CLEANING RECORDS
USING SPINCLEAN
WHAT EQUIPMENT TO BUY
PHONO PRE AMPLIFIER
HOW TO BALANCE TONE ARM
WHAT EQUIPMENT TO BUY
For beginners budget and available space are deciding factors
I will only address buying NEW gear because buying USED is too complex to cover
But I will add that vintage gear can be very good and cost effective if you know what to look for
To begin with, most people decide to spend very little because they wish to "see if they like it" so opt for below entry level equipment. Or on the spur of the moment buy a pretty suitcase player or have been gifted one.
ALL suitcase & all-in-one players should be avoided because they have a cheap mechanism which is prone to skipping, inconsistent speed and often breakdown. Image below depicts the tell tale look of this bad mechanism.
However if you must buy an all-in-one player the 1 By One H009 All-In-One Turntable is acceptable. This is NOT A RECOMMENDATION, merely pointing out this is the least worst one. It will work OK and does have a proper tone arm with adjustments.
Plus this model has Line/Phono output so you can upgrade to external powered speakers or a main amplifier with passive speakers which will make a big improvement over the built-in speakers.
At the very minimum you will need a separate turntable and a pair of powered speakers. This will enable you to enjoy proper stereo sound. Expect to spend around $600USD in the USA. In Australia around $1,000AUD.
Do NOT buy an AT-LP60 or an AT-LP70. These are entry level so are very limited and you will most likely find reliability issues and they lack proper features. Plus the cartridge cannot be upgraded so you are stuck with what it came with. Entry level gear is like buying a cheap street car and then driving in an off road rally.
Audio-technica turntables to consider are in the "Step-up" range listed HERE. Or the more expensive "PREMIUM" range HERE. Many recommend the AT-LP120 which has DJ features that you do not need, so the AT-LPW40 may suit you better. Both are good.
Fluance turntables to consider begin with the RT82 plus any models above that. Please avoid the RT80 and 81 as the RT82 is much better for very little extra cost. Personally, I'd go with the RT85N because it comes with the better sounding Nakaoga cartridge HERE
Pro-Ject turntables to consider begin with the Debut EVO 2 plus any models above that. Please avoid models like the E1 which don't allow for upgrading the cartridge because the tracking weight is not adjustable
IMPORTANT: All record playing systems requires a PHONO PRE AMPLIFIER (PPA) in the audio chain. So you need check if the turntable has one built-in, which is usually indicated by a switch on the back labeled LINE/PHONO so you can choose to use the built in PPA or not. Powered speakers that have a PPA built-in will have an input labeled PHONO.
For a dirt cheap PPA that works OK try the Bozak Madisson M Phono Pre Amp or spend a bit more for the Emotiva PH1.
However a more expensive PPA will improve sound, see the PHONO page to learn more.
This is for enthusiast that want the full blown experience. Utilises a combination of separate components such as Turntable, Integrated Amplifier and Passive Speakers.
Expect to be spending something like $2,500USD. Here is an example of a typical setup. I am not necessarily recommending these components, it is just to give you an idea.
Rega are a well known UK brand that have been engineering their turntables for decades. It does not have a built-in Phono Pre Amp so you need an external one or an amplifier with a PHONO input. Buy P3 or better and you are set for life.
Yamaha are a well respected and their gear is very reliable and clean sounding. The models in this series have a PHONO input so an external Phono Pre Amp is not required.
Wharfedale have been in the speaker biz for a very long time.
Page revised Dec 10, 2025
Since the 1970s I have been an audio & music enthusiast, worked in pro sound installation, & still buy CDs/records