A Simple Guide to Buying the Best Equipment for Your Record Collection

11th January 2018
A Simple Guide to Buying the Best Equipment for Your Record Collection

Getting into vinyl can be intimidating. This is especially true when you start to consider all the aspects to vinyl – the wires, a turntable that’ll last, the cartridge, amplifier and speaker options. Getting a good sound out of a vinyl record takes effort but the extra work can definitely be worth it.

The truth is, there’s no single solution on how to set up a vinyl-friendly stereo system. Personal preferences always vary so it’s important to figure out what sounds best to you and works with your listening habits.

Turntables

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New vinyl fans are recommended to get a real stereo system including a turntable, amp and speakers. The Audio Technica AT-LP120 is a go-to for anyone looking for an introductory deck.  For a less expensive beginner option, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is a mid-level starter turntable with a built-in phono preamp.

Cartridges

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A cartridge contains the needle that touches the record and has a huge effect on what your music sounds like. Most turntables come with their own cartridges but avid listeners will need to buy or replace one at some point.

As a beginner, Shure is a highly recommended brand. The M97XE is a common recommendation for a value cartridge since the needles are not expensive to replace. The Shure M97xE is capable of accurately reproducing difficult musical passages, particularly in the high-frequency range, where audio modulations are the smallest and most concentrated, and stylus tip movement is consequently the most rapid.

Monitor Speakers

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Nowadays, small and relatively inexpensive speakers can pack as much power as the huge speakers of the past. A good recommendation is the Yamaha HS5 Active Studio Monitor which features bi-amped full range 2-way speakers. It has been developed by Yamaha to offer an exceptionally flat and accurate frequency response for use in music production and composition as well as home project studios. For a more advanced option, Yamaha MSP 5 has advanced magnetic structures that achieve exceptionally low distortion.

These are the standard starting products that you’d need in order to start off your vinyl sound system! For more information on our products, visit Olimpus in Mosta and talk to one of our members of staff!

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