The Complete Beginner's Guide to Vinyl

Starting a vinyl collection is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a music listener. It's also one of the easiest to get wrong. This guide covers everything a first-time buyer needs to know before spending a single penny.

---

Before you buy anything

The most common mistake new collectors make is buying a turntable before they have speakers. Your turntable is only as good as the system it's connected to. Think of the whole chain:

Turntable → Phono preamp → Amplifier → Speakers

Some turntables include a built-in phono preamp. Some amplifiers include one. Some don't. Before buying anything, know which links in your chain are missing.

---

What you actually need

A turntable

Your first turntable should be reliable, easy to set up, and not so cheap that it damages your records. The danger zone is below £100 / $100 — cheap styluses and poorly calibrated tracking force will physically damage your vinyl over time.

Our recommended entry points:

• Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB — The default recommendation for most first-time buyers. Direct drive, built-in preamp, USB output for ripping. Sounds better than it has any right to at this price.
• Rega Planar 1 — If you care more about sound than features. No built-in preamp, no USB, but the audio quality is noticeably better than most decks twice its price.
• Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO — The next step up if you want a deck you'll keep for a decade. Carbon fibre tonearm, better cartridge, cleaner sound.

See our full breakdown: Best Turntables Under $500 →

---

A phono preamp (maybe)

If your turntable doesn't have a built-in phono preamp — and your amplifier doesn't have a phono input — you need one. The phono preamp amplifies the tiny signal from your cartridge to a level that a standard input can handle.

The Schiit Mani 2 is the standard recommendation at this level. It's compact, well-built, and sounds significantly better than the preamps built into entry-level turntables.

If your turntable already has a built-in preamp with an on/off switch, start with it switched on. Upgrade later when your ear tells you to.

---

Speakers

Powered (active) speakers are the easiest starting point — they have an amplifier built in, so you connect your turntable directly.

Look at:

• Audioengine A2+ — Compact, excellent for desks and smaller rooms
• KEF LSX — A significant step up in clarity and bass response
• Q Acoustics 3020i with a separate amplifier — better value than powered speakers at this size

---

Records

Start with music you already love. Don't buy records you think you should own — buy the albums you'll actually listen to.

Buy new before buying used. New records are cleaner and the quality is predictable. Once you know what clean vinyl sounds like, you'll be able to identify a good used record in a shop.

---

What to avoid

Suitcase turntables (Crosley, Victrola, etc.) — The stylus tracking force is too high and will damage your records. The speakers are built into the lid, which causes vibration feedback. The cartridge is usually irreplaceable. Avoid entirely.

Buying records before you have a way to play them — Obvious, but common.

Expecting perfect audio from day one — Setup matters. Level your turntable. Set the correct tracking force. Clean your stylus regularly.

---

The one thing most people miss

Your records need to be clean to sound good. A new record from the shop may have pressing debris in the grooves. A used record almost certainly does.

A £17 anti-static brush used before every play makes a measurable difference. A proper wet cleaning system — like the Spin-Clean — is the single best upgrade most new collectors can make.

See our cleaning guide: How to Clean Vinyl Records →

---

Your first month checklist

• [ ] Buy a turntable in the £200–£500 / $200–$500 range
• [ ] Check whether you need a separate phono preamp
• [ ] Connect to powered speakers or an amplifier + passive speakers
• [ ] Buy 5–10 records you genuinely love
• [ ] Get an anti-static brush
• [ ] Level your turntable using a spirit level
• [ ] Set the correct tracking force (your turntable manual will tell you how)

That's it. You don't need anything else to start. The rest can come later, when your ear tells you something is missing.