THE RECORD REBIRTH

Vinyl makes a monumental comeback thanks to Millennials

There is something delightfully nostalgic about playing a vinyl album on a record player. For some it can be a trip back in time complete with bell bottom jeans, afros and a joint or two to make the music sound even groovier. However, the recent resurgence in vinyl is due to a group that wasn’t even born in the 60s or 70s: Millennials.

Vinyl album sales are on the upswing and have been steadily growing for more than a decade. 42 million vinyl records were sold in 2021, far eclipsing CD sales and officially returning from the dead.

The comeback is even more baffling when you consider that vinyl doesn’t travel well and forces listeners to stay put. To truly experience the lo-fi brilliance of a vinyl record, you must embrace a slightly cruder sound complete with all the snaps, crackles and pops.

Record player prices run the gamut from under $100 to over $4,000 and vary widely in sound quality and functionality. While it’s worth investing a bit more to ensure better sound quality, you don’t have to break the bank to do it. Here’s a quick primer on what to look for if you decide to go the vinyl route.

A turntable is a part of a record player. It spins the records either manually or automatically. The difference is self-explanatory. A manual turntable requires you to manually lower the tonearm onto the record to start playing. An automatic turntable does the work for you and only needs you to press a button to lower the arm onto the record.

If you want high-quality sound, consistent playback and a classic design, go with the belt drive option. A belt drive turntable uses a belt to spin the platter, whereas direct drive turntables are powered by magnets, meaning there is no physical contact with the platter. Direct drive turntables can reach the intended speed much faster but the noise from the motor is still likely to get picked up by your machine.

If your record player has powered speakers, they have their own amps and will require external power. Passive speakers will require separate amps. A record player with integrated speakers is a great option for anyone on a budget. You won’t need to factor in extra costs for an amp or speakers because everything is all-in-one.

This is why you should have an idea of what type of record player you’ll be buying and where you’ll place your record player so you can be sure you can dedicate ample room for it. Be sure to place the turntable on a sturdy surface away from any potential interference.

And not to worry, if you can’t quite quit streaming altogether, a lot of turntables offer a number of built-in connectivity options like Bluetooth which allows you to stream music through your record player.

IN OUR NEXT POST: We’ll share our picks for some of the best albums to get you started so you can truly experience the benefits of vinyl.