It’s almost hard to believe that we’re already approaching a decade since the rebirth of vinyl. For those of us who never stopped listening or buying records, the vinyl revolution has been one of both vindication, and a little bit of frustration. We’re thrilled to see millions of people around the globe experiencing records for the first time. It will always be our favorite format for listening to music; that doesn’t make it the best for those who are firmly in the digital camp and think we are all crazy to invest so much time into the format. Making a list of the best vinyl accessories was actually quite hard in 2022 because there are so many.
Americans purchased nearly 40 million new records in 2021 which is a 67% increase over 2020.
Affordable audiophile turntables are everywhere – but that doesn’t mean that you’re even hearing 50% of what is in the grooves of your favorite records. Vinyl accessories that upgrade the sound of your records can be very affordable; or super expensive in the case of some record cleaning machines and very high-end cartridges.
If you think that $300 turntable with the $80 cartridge is telling the whole story – you’re not really hearing what analog playback is capable of. That dusty Thorens, Dual, or Yamaha turntable in the basement or grandma’s attic is capable of beating the pants off a lot of the new tables selling for under $1,000.
There are companies that can help you restore those tables or sell you a finished one that will last a lot longer than the $400 ones you’re seeing online. They may also sell essential vinyl accessories like record weights, new belts, and brushes to keep everything sounding its best.
Taking care of your records is a huge part of the process; those of us with cleaning rituals and multiple machines and brushes – we need to get out more. The kicker is that cleaner records sound better, and they also preserve the life of your phono cartridge. Dust, grime, smoke, food, and pet hair magically figure out how to land on the surface of your records and your cartridge pays the price for it.
The following vinyl accessories and upgrades will improve the sound of your records and allow you to experience vinyl in a way that you’re probably not at the moment. From custom restored turntables, affordable phono preamps, record cleaning machines, and better cartridges – all of these will have a significant impact.
The Best Restored Turntable
Vinyl Nirvana Thorens TD-160 Series (from $629.00 – $2,195.00)
Vinyl Nirvana is a custom turntable restoration shop in rural New Hampshire that has developed a global reputation for delivering beautiful, reliable, and exquisite sounding tables. Dave Archambault runs a tight ship and packs each project to survive even the worst delivery conditions. With a customer base that includes famous musicians, actors, and a growing list of audiophiles who have decided that his restored tables offer better long-term value than mass-produced MDF tables overseas, Vinyl Nirvana has become the go-to source for quality restorations of Thorens turntables including the TD-150, TD-160, and TD-160 Super.
People have spent a lot of time at home during the pandemic; and apparently down in the basement or in the attic where they discovered they owned rather dusty 40 year-old Thorens or Acoustic Research turntables. One of the other services offered by Vinyl Nirvana is turntable restoration. Archambault has accumulated one of the largest stockpiles in the world of parts for these turntables. And he will sell them to you. And explain how to properly install them.
If the table requires some serious work – you can ship it to him, and he’ll make it look like new for a rather fair price. He does incredible work on older tables and he’s one of the best people to deal with in the world if you’re looking for someone who will walk you through the process. He’s not just sticking your turntable in a nicer chassis. He makes them sound better than anything you could buy new for less money.
The restored Thorens turntables are offered with a selection of tonearms and phono cartridges from Ortofon, Grado Labs, and Dynavector; Archambault also offers a comprehensive selection of hardwood plinths that are beautifully finished. Vinyl Nirvana’s customer service is also first rate; with the proprietor available to talk customers through set-up issues if they arise.
For more information: Vinyl Nirvana & The Art of the Restored Turntable
Best Entry-Level Phono Cartridges
Grado Labs Timbre Series (from $275 – $1,500)
Based in Brooklyn, Grado Labs has been manufacturing award-winning phono cartridges and headphones for decades making them a pillar of the audio community. The late-Joseph Grado invented the stereo phono cartridge in 1953 at his kitchen table in Brooklyn and the business has been driven forward by three generations of Grado family members. Having visited the house and spent time watching these handmade cartridges painstakingly assembled, there is no question that vinyl listeners are getting quality transducers every time they mount one of the new Timbre Series phono cartridges to a tonearm.
The old Reference Series and Statement Series cartridges have been combined into the new Timbre Series; which include the new Sonata3 ($600), Platinum3 ($400), Reference3 ($1,500), Master3 ($1,000), and the new Opus3 ($275). Each cartridge is available in high-output (4.8mV) and low-output (1.0mV) stereo and mono versions.
The Opus3 offers an affordable entry-level option ($275 at Amazon) that is assembled inside a maple body while the remaining models are made from an Australian Jarrah wood.
Grado Labs cartridges have always had a very specific “house” sound that emphasized midrange and low-end punch at the expense of inner detail, and top end information – but we think you can toss that into the dustbin of history with the new Timbre models.
All of the signature Grado midrange and low punch still exists, but we find these new carts to be quieter in the groove, more transparent sounding, and far superior in the detail department to the cartridges that they have replaced. These American-made cartridges may be the best sounding affordable phono cartridges available right now.
For more information: Grado Labs Timbre Series
Best Affordable Platter Mats and Cleaning Wipes
Analog Restorations ($26 to $62.00)
The Garden State definitely loves its live music, rock stars, and record stores. We gave the world Bruce, Bon Jovi, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Lauryn Hill, Donald Fagen, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter and Count Basie. It’s also the home of VPI turntables and Analog Restorations.
Have you ever wondered where people on Instagram are getting those fantastic custom cork platter mats?
There’s a company in New Jersey that makes them and we’re huge fans.
The cork platter mats start at $26 and you can have it customized. The record cleaning wipes are more expensive but they work really well on dirty records that you might pick up at a used record store.
For more information: 10 Questions for Analog Restorations
Best Affordable Wireless Loudspeaker with Phono Preamp
Andover Audio Spinbase ($349)
Vibration is the enemy when it comes to vinyl playback and there is nothing worse than placing a pair of loudspeakers on the same surface as a turntable unless one of the two components is isolated from the other using vibration control stands or a platform. Andover Audio has a slightly more affordable solution that addresses both the loudspeaker and vibration issue in a very compact and great sounding package well worth your attention.
Designed for vinyl lovers desiring a compact, yet premium speaker solution for their turntable, the Spinbase features Andover’s feedback eliminating Isogroove™ technology and Bluetooth streaming, with audio performance that is designed to be comparable to a pair of bookshelf loudspeakers.
The Spinbase audio system utilizes a clever arrangement of two woofers and two tweeters to produce an expansive stereo image. Traditional component systems create “sweet spots”, which only provide one ideal listening location. Spinbase fills the room with a surprisingly balanced sound stage, making every location the best place to listen.
With support for additional auxiliary devices, like the Andover Songbird streamer or a CD player, and Bass and Treble EQ controls on the back panel, users can tweak the tonal balance of the Spinbase to best match their listening space.
The top platform of the Spinbase is large enough for an entry-level turntable like an Orbit+ from U-Turn Audio or Pro-Ject Debut EVO which fit into the price range of the Spinbase making it ideal for an office or dorm room system.
Sonically, the internal phono section of the Spinbase worked quite well with the pre-installed Grado Labs Black2 that came with my daughter’s Orbit+ turntable; the midrange resolution of the affordable cartridge was well preserved by the loudspeaker system and while it wasn’t the last word in top end detail or extension, the Soundbase won’t make you reach for the volume knob to turn things down either. The system has good dynamic punch and a surprisingly wide soundstage; albeit with some restrictions on absolute loudness.
For $349, it’s performance with both streaming (Bluetooth 5.0 support) and vinyl playback is a lot of fun.
Where to buy: $349 at AndoverAudio.com
Best Affordable Vacuum Record Cleaner
Record Doctor VI Record Cleaning Machine ($330)
The resurgence of vinyl was not only a boon for turntable and cartridge manufacturers but for the vinyl accessories market as well. Record cleaning machines never really vanished with brands like VPI and Nitty Gritty keeping the market well supplied but the rebirth of the record created an opening for other brands already in the analog playback space to offer their own cleaning machines. Consumers can spend anywhere from $80 to $6,000 for a record cleaning machine and there is some merit to the expense if your record collection continues to grow and you really care about preserving your collection and the lifespan of your cartridge.
Clean records sound better and that means more playback hours for your cartridge if you take the time to clean and store your vinyl properly. The VPI HW 16.5 has to be considered the go-to unit if you have a large record collection and want something that will last a very long time. It’s loud and not the prettiest piece of industrial design but it does the job well every single time.
We know people who still use 20 year-old units on a daily basis and will buy nothing else. The issue for most people getting into vinyl is the cost of a record cleaning machine; the VPI HW 16.5 ($950 at Audio Advice) which is more than most listeners have spent on their table/cartridge set-up. If you have a budget under $1000, the VPI is the model to buy. For vinyl lovers with a maximum budget of $330, the Record Doctor VI is an excellent alternative.
The new Record Doctor VI Record Cleaning Machine is the first major upgrade to the original Record Doctor V in the last ten years. The new machine is quieter and cleans better than any other entry-level unit which offers vacuum cleaning. The Record Doctor VI utilizes a high-performance vacuum motor to remove all of the cleaning fluid and dirt from the surface of your records while you manually turn the record with the included injection-molded turner that also covers the entire record label to prevent damage.
The unit comes with a deep-cleaning applicator brush which you use to scrub clean the grooves with a record cleaning solution; the manufacturer sells their own cleaning solution, but we had good success with both VPI and Mobile Fidelity cleaning solutions as well.
For $330, the Record Doctor VI does the job and without a lot of fuss. Like any record cleaning machine with a vacuum, there is a noise factor to contend with and this unit is only slightly quieter than other units that we have used.
For more information: Record Doctor VI
Where to buy: $329.95 at Crutchfield
Best Affordable Phono Preamps
We can’t overstate the importance of a good phono preamp. Many new integrated amplifiers include an internal MM phono stage, but not all of them sound that great. They also don’t support MC cartridges unless the manufacturer has gone the extra mile and designed one with multiple levels of gain, impedance settings, and other loading options to get the most out of your MC cartridge.
There is no shortage of great sounding phono preamps available below $995 USD in 2022. There are even 3-4 below $500 that are really worth considering. The differences in sound quality with a good cartridge can be monumental; tone, detail, bass response, and overall clarity takes a huge step forward. One of the most important vinyl accessories you can invest in.
We’ve made a list of some of our favorite affordable phono preamps here. Brands like Schiit Audio, Rega, Cambridge Audio, Moon by SimAudio, iFi Audio, Pro-Ject, and Croft Acoustics – they have you covered.
For more information: Best Audiophile Phono Preamps
Best Anti-Static Tool
Milty Pro Zerostat 3 ($99)
Dust and dirt are the enemy when it comes to vinyl playback and what attracts both of them is static; it also helps that you handle your records properly and don’t run your greasy fingers over them after one too many puffs at the 4th of July BBQ.
Clean records are also essential to preserving your cartridge; dirt, cheese popcorn residue, and pet hair accumulate in the grooves and begin building up on your stylus. Did you really spend $450 on a phono cartridge only to have its playing life shortened because you’re too lazy to wash your hands or clean your records?
I’ve always looked at products like the Milty Pro Zerostat 3 with a lot of skepticism because is it really neutralizing static?
The Zerostat 3 produces positive and negative ions that cancel out the positive and negative charges on the surface of your record.
Does it work?
I recently inherited over 200 records from a family friend and I did give some of the Ella Fitzgerald albums and movie soundtracks a quick listen before cleaning them; I zapped all five records and I’m puzzled. This thing actually does reduce static on records quite significantly.
Before heading down to Florida, I zapped two Blue Note Tone Poet Series releases from Andrew Hill and Herbie Hancock which are in mint condition and have been cleaned on my Record Doctor VI.
I do have issues with static in the winter here when the air gets very dry; as opposed to now when living so close to the ocean results in very bad hair days.
Both records were impressively quiet after being zapped. This thing actually works. I don’t think it transforms your listening experience but it definitely eliminates static.
The Milty Pro Zerostat 3 is constructed of durable hard plastic material and feels like it will actually last unless you let the dog have a go at it. The unit is good for at least 50,000 trigger operations (I’m already at 100 this week) and requires no batteries, power supply or any kind of refills
The two piezo-electric crystals contacting one another via the trigger mechanism generate the charged ions without need of a power supply.
The Zerostat 3 comes with full instructions for use, plus includes a special ion-indicator which shows you that Zerostat is working. Just plug the indicator into the end of the ‘pistol,’ squeeze the handle, and a small neon tube will gently glow red.
Where to buy: $98 at Amazon.com | $99 at Turntable Lab | $147 at Amazon.ca | £59 at Amazon.co.uk I Goldring USA
Related reading: Best Affordable Audiophile Turntables
ORT
March 19, 2022 at 11:44 am
Vinyl is a tactile medium. Not only must you touch it but it touches you. Deeply, from within. To your very soul. It stirs memories and in doing so, awakens the child inside each of us.
I coined the term “frAudiophile” to describe those who listen to the equipment rather than the music, they are the Sadducee of our hobby. They strain at a digital bit and then swallow their lies and worse still, they want, no…NEED us to swallow their lies as Holy Rote.
But to paraphrase some one far smarter than I, equipment was created for people, not people for equipment.
I began my return to vinyl several years ago and I think it started with those whom I call the “Crosley Kids”. Some call them “hipsters” but without Crosley record players and the desire of those young folk to have fun LISTENING to music on records, vinyl would still languish because of frAudiophiles and their hatred of the joy of music.
My Crosley Executive Deluxe reminded me of my ’71 GE Wildcat portable record CHANGER. Yes, I stacked my records because I wanted to listen to them for as long a period of time as I could. I mowed lawns, washed cars and babysat to earn money for records. I was a kid on the inside and outside because I was of an age where the wonders of the world were never to be taken for granted. I hand not yet grown up nor old.
I also had 8-Tracks and yeah…I stuck a piece of folded up paper or cardboard under the cartridge to make the heads track more accurately. 😉 I then got a Panasonic portable cassette recorder with AM/FM tuner and could dial in KPOI on Oahu or, with patience and luck the endless loop of an “all Beatles” radio station broadcasting from (I think) Maui or Kaui. And it was all about the music and the memories I was making.
The equipment brought me joy, no doubt. With out it, I would not have been able to listen and so I under stand and THOROUGHLY enjoy that side of the hobby. But it is the means to an end and not the end it self. I would go to the Exchange in Pearl Harbor and stare at the Akai Reel to Reel decks.
“Sigh”…
I consider this site along with one or two others to be music driven. There are typists and there are WRITERS. Ian is of the latter. He lives for life, for FAMILY. He listens to the soundtrack of his life and shares it here and a few other places on the interwebs. He writes from his heart and soul, as do his staff. For those that will bitterly claim that I am merely kissing ass, I would say this –
My mother taught me that with any person you must always tell them what you see and hear, not what you think or feeeeel they desire to hear, not to salve their ego but to strengthen them. I like this site. I like the writers.
Enough rambling. I shall close with a tale of sadness. My family recently lost our dog, or rather our son’s dog. He was over 16 years old. In Commiefornia we are no longer allowed to be with a pet that is being euthanized. I have been saving for a new tube integrated amp, either from LSA or Decware. I had worked and saved up nearly $600 so far but I took that money and paid it to have Rocky pass at HOME with HIS FAMILY. With us…
As some one I call friend might well say –
“All we need now is a dog. And a new record brush. Perhaps two.”
In all ways and for always, be well. And listen to the music. For you, your family and friends, Ian, Shabbat Shalom.
ORT
ORT
March 20, 2022 at 12:08 pm
I forgot to mention that I own and use, three Spinbase setups. I also gave one to my daughter and her family and I will be giving one to my brother and his wonderful wife.
They are excellent and make playing records easy and enjoyable. Highly recommended, believe me. Earlier this morning I ordered some of the Peanuts related items including a couple of records from TTL.
I keep waiting for the Pro-Ject Automat A1 to be available (supposedly due this past February) but I still have three ‘tables in my home that I use. A Denon DP-300F, a 50th Anniversary Sgt. Pepper Pro-Ject Essential III and my favorite for looks alone, my Dual 1246. I often search the local and not so local Craigslist for another vintage ‘table and should I find one that appeals to me, I will make an offer based upon its condition and subsequent repair/restoration costs. I use a small local shoppe for that but appreciate the heads up given here on Vinyl Nirvana!
Playing records is a fun and emotionally satisfying pastime. My brother played some records last night and sent me short video of his Akai ‘table spinning Eric Carmen.
Soon I will be setting up one of my 300 or 400 disc CD changers for use again. If/when the WiFi goes down a record is cued up. And soon, one of my Mega CD changers will also be put to good use. My brother said he is going to get out his Nakamichi 7 Disc changer. That thing is sooooo cool! I had one too but but wore it out years ago. I also have a six-disc Onkyo carousel changer that is still in use in one room.
Thank you for this article, sir.
ORT
Scott
July 6, 2022 at 12:04 pm
You should also try the Kirmuss vinyl restoration tool!