Getting Back Into Vinyl: A Turntable Guide for Returning Dads

Somewhere in a loft near you sits a box of records that hasn't been played since the CD took over. If you've decided it's time to bring them back to life, welcome home. Here's what's worth knowing before you spend anything.

Avoid the suitcase players

Those all-in-one players with built-in speakers look lovely in a shop window. They also tend to have heavy tonearms and cheap styluses that can wear your records. If you care about the collection, skip them.

Belt drive or direct drive?

• Belt drive isolates the motor from the platter, which keeps things quiet. Most home hi-fi decks work this way.
• Direct drive gets up to speed instantly and is built like a tank. It's what DJs use, and it's great if you like to tinker.

Either will sound good at home. Pick the one that fits how you listen.

The preamp question

A turntable's signal is very quiet, so it needs a phono preamp before your amplifier. Many modern decks have one built in, and older amplifiers often have a "phono" input. If neither applies, a small standalone preamp does the job.

Spend on the cartridge and the speakers

The cartridge (the bit with the needle) makes a big difference to the sound, and so do your speakers. A modest deck with a decent cartridge and good speakers will beat an expensive deck plugged into a tinny soundbar.

Look after the records

Give each record a quick going-over with a carbon-fibre brush before you play it, and swap tired paper inner sleeves for anti-static ones. Your 1983 pressing of Power, Corruption & Lies will thank you.

Then make a cup of tea, drop the needle, and remember why you fell in love with this in the first place.