The best record players for every listening style: Most music fans can agree on one thing: Some music just sounds better on vinyl. In fact, this is a large part of why record players have not disappeared, even as music has gone more digital. If anything, sales of turntables have gone up since 2010, with over 75 thousand sold in the US in 2020. Of course, record players aren’t just popular with audiophiles willing to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on a luxury record player. They’re popular with college students, homeowners looking for a classy accessory for their living room, and mixmasters. As a result, there are a variety of different record players available on the market — and a whole range of prices, with some costing thousands of dollars. But, unless you’re a pro DJ or true audiophile, you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to find one that delivers quality sound.
Technics announces new turntable, SL-1210G: Audiophile capabilities with DJ-inspired aesthetics – in a new sleek black finish. Technics is releasing a new version of its SL-1210G turntable, this October. A twin sister to its SL-1210GAE limited edition turntable, the SL-1210G incorporates audiophile level technology in a range that sits below its Reference class. …“We learned from the huge success of the limited edition SL-1210GAE, which was launched in June 2020 and almost immediately sold out,” says European Technics Product Manager Frank Balzuweit. “We realised there was high demand for a ‘regular’ black version of this flagship 1200 Series model. In its striking black finish, the new SL-1210G possesses genuine elegance.” Retailing for £3499, the SL-1210-G will be available in Europe from October 2021.
Looking to modernize your vinyl collection? Here are some digital options for your records: “…The revival of vinyl records has been growing in popularity for over a decade, which has prompted many companies to create new turntables that can connect to a computer. Making sure it has a USB interface isn’t the only thing to consider because the cost of new vinyl records can be two to three times that of the comparable CD or digital download. Vinyl records suffer from an affliction that doesn’t apply to its digital counterparts – they slowly deteriorate with each play and buying a cheap turntable can accelerate the degradation. The “needle” of a turntable rides in the grooves of the record and the mechanics that control this physical contact will have a huge impact on the health of your vinyl over the years.
Are vinyl records and custom t-shirts a good bundle idea for indie bands? …Aside from the fact that it has tons of fans from both old and new generations of music lovers, there are other more technical reasons why you should release your very own custom vinyl records. The format is known for the great sound quality it offers to its listeners. It also helps musicians deliver their songs in the nearest possible sound they want. However, these vinyl records should really be well taken care of. It’s a very impressionable physical format which means that external factors like dust and heat can damage the record and the sound it produces. Between digital and physical albums, physical albums are much more superior in terms of visual creativity since it does not only give a cover album space. But among the different physical album formats, the winner for this category would be the vinyl record.
Best Outer Record Sleeves for Maximum Protection: A crisp, brand new record straight off the production line is a beauty to behold. Untouched by the outside world, your new record arrives spotless and ready to provide years, decades, possibly generations of joy. Vinyl really is the best format for experiencing the album as an art form. But there’s a problem… As soon as we begin enjoying our new record, the signs of wear start to appear. Constant use, pulling the record in and out of storage, perusing the liner notes, and eventually sliding the record back afterward can quickly take its toll. Scuffed edges, ring wear, and scratches are all signs of outer record jacket wear we want to avoid if our investment is to stand the test of time. Nobody likes a dog-eared record. Inner sleeves protect the vinyl record, but if we want to preserve the artwork, we also want to invest in the best outer record sleeves. For recommendations on the best inner sleeves, check out our previous article. Today, we’ll list our personal recommendations of the best outer record sleeves to help preserve your album for many years to come.
