Turntable noobie...what advice do you have?

Here is a very worthwhile solution while you are gathering ideas to get you on your way with confidence.

A US based Used Record Store that supplies a LP having been Ultrasonic Tank cleaned using a machine from the Company KLAUDIO. I have discovered the USM uses side mounted transducers on either side of the LP, and this method of placing the critical parts will have a much improved produced cavitation over a single transducer mounted in the base, as with the most typical tanks found.

I did not discover the Khz for the transducers being used on this machine, but it does state 200 Watts.

I found this outlet and with cleaned vinyl on offer after a short search, I am sure there are others offering a similar service.

It does look like a Anti Static Sleeve, a discipline to keep the fingers of the LP’s surface and a Brush will get you on your way.

If at a certain time of year, the replay starts sounding quite inferior, there may be a static charge present on the LP, there are quite a few ideas on how to decrease the impact of this.

@oldaudiophile 

Good advice. You can push the dust and crud around, but bing able to really clean an album really makes a big difference. I now own a Nessie… wonderfully small and quiet.

Okay, so what all would you recommend for someone just getting into this hobby?

Bail, and spend your money on dialing in a digital setup and a music service before you waste good money on crappy recordings and overpriced new releases.

@bdp24 apologies to you bro. Saw that you’d already directed our new friend to Crossroads. Hadn’t read the whole deal.

Hey, what do you think of the move to Pioneer Courthouse Square as venue of choice for this summer? Personally I don’t enjoy standing through entire concerts…

Don't be anal about it.  Get a good record brush so you can clean off the worst of it before dropping the stylus.  Buy used.  Dump the stuff you don't particularly like. Enjoy listening to the music; if you like listening to the gear more than listening to the music, you're headed the wrong direction.  Have fun and don't get too serious about it.

I have to say now after going back and reading your thread that I think the above is the most sensible post.   Start simply by getting just a good brush - I used a disc washer (wood oval cylinder with a wide brush) for 45 years with great results and no damage - wet or dry and you’ll be just fine.   You can get into all grades of record cleaners down the road if you want to but it’s not really necessary to get started.    
 

Vinyl sounds so good.  I can listen to records all day or forever but cannot say that about digital.   Congratulations and thanks for posting.

Hey, why don’t you join us on the what’s on your turntable tonight thread and get not only ideas for new and old records but comments on what issues are worthwhile record purchases.   

@bdp24 @spiritofradio We need to do a Portland record store crawl this Summer !

Absolutely! We’ve got some good ones. To the OP, Millennium is a great store, one of the best indy LRS if the country. Also check out Crossroads out in the cultural wilderness of SE Powell and 82nd… like having all of Discogs under one roof.

@tomic601: Yer on, buddy! I'm heading out to sea in July (a cruise to Alaska), and may be heading down to SoCal (Glendale) in a coupla weeks, where I'll be visiting Amoeba Records in Hollywood. Gawd I miss that place!

@ddonicht, lots of good guidance here from the vinyl community!

There's lots to know about the proper care & feeding of LPs and vinyl playback, not the least of which is proper storage, good quality anti-static poly sleeves, etc. I hesitated a bit before chiming in with my two cents, which is probably an amalgam of many things already mentioned. However, as a self-described nerd who tends to research things before pulling the trigger, when you have time enough to devote to this, have a read of Neil Antin's "Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records - 2nd edition". Not an easy or quick read, by any stretch of the imagination! However, certainly worth the time and gray cell investment!

Should you clean records before play, even new ones? Absolutely! Does this need to be done before every play? Of course not! However, there are some vinyl afficionados who do. More power to 'em! Is ultrasonic LP cleaning the way to go? I'm convinced, as are many other audiophiles. If the budget can bear it, have a look at the Degritter machine, which is all the rage now. On the other hand, if sticker shock is a factor, you might want to check out "Cleaner Vinyl Ultrasonic Record Cleaning". A bit more labor-intensive and less convenient than Degritter, but a fraction of the cost. Convenience, eloquence and innovation has its price. By all means, though, I strongly encourage you to invest in some sort of record cleaning system or device(s), especially if you are going to get involved with used records! Your ears will be happy you did! Depending upon what the budget will bear, you should have a look at the vacuum cleaning machines or something as relatively inexpensive as a Spin-Clean or Knosti Disco-Antistat. Personally, I would go with the Knosti because of the cleaning brushes, as opposed to the Spin-Clean's pads. In any event, pay particular attention to the types of cleaning fluids employed (you don't need to use what comes with the machine) and, if needed, use only high-quality microfiber cleaning or drying cloths. You can also clean records manually. However, a machine makes this considerably easier. With a properly cleaned record, good TT & cart and good sound system, surface noise is virtually eradicated. You'll be amazed at the deep, dark, black background noise floor the music will be coming from and the dynamic response or, as Messieurs Simon and Garfunkel would put it, "The Sound of Silence".

Another thing I consider indispensable is a good record clamp, like a Michell Reflex. Here, also, you'll be amazed at the sonic improvements this makes. You can also use a record puck or weight. However, I don't see the sense in placing extra weight on the TT bearings or additional mass on the platter, even if the manufacturer says the TT was designed and engineered to accommodate this. If you do go with a clamp, make sure you get one that accommodates the length of the TT spindle.

I'm not sure the Audio Technica - AT6006R Safety Raiser would work with the Pro-ject TT you have in mind. However, if it does, one of these gizmos certainly beats the hell out of having to be ever vigilant so as to prevent your stylus from running into the label at the end of a record. Not a good thing!

Here's another inexpensive gizmo to have a look at: StylusTimer

Helps you keep track of the mileage on the cart & stylus. Not absolutely necessary, of course, but convenient.

Some sort of stylus cleaner is also an absolute must. I would recommend you check in with your cart manufacturer on this to see what they recommend.

Oh! MoFi & Music Direct are an excellent source for new records, There are a few others but you can't go wrong with MoFi & Music Direct.

Welcome back to vinyl and happy spinning!

You definitely need a cleaner for used records and I suggest cleaning new records also to get rid of and releasing agent left behind. I use the Vinyl Style cleaner. Based on my research, it’s better than the Spin Doctor. But don’t use the Vinyl Style cleaning fluid (it’s a reusable fluid and why use dirty fluid). Buy a bottle of the Spin Doctor fluid. Every time you clean it’s with clean fluid. 

@bdp24 @spiritofradio We need to do a Portland record store crawl this Summer !

In a pinch a fine Oregon Pinot can be used as a stylus cleaner… just kidding…

enjoy your new vinyl :-) I find some real gems on Discogs and bin diving my local record stores …

I ran a aerospace grade clean rooms and have been thru a few record pressing plants, maybe somebody can explain where all the junk in my Degritter tank and filter is coming from ??? Of course a simple black light will show you just how dirty those new records are….

A nitty gritty, spin clean or VPI is a fine place to start :-)

All great advice from the local Portland crowd.  Crossroads Records is a treasure trove if you have hours to spend browsing.  And to protect that stylus,   I maintain a strict 2 beer limit when playing records! LoL No easier way to eff up a stylus or record than an unsteady arm. 

Something I don't think anybody mentioned, is that you need a solid place to put it, or it will fly off the rails if you look at it the wrong way.  Hopefully you can just stick it where you plan to put it and all will be well, but be prepared just in case.  One trick I always suggest is to put half a glass of water in the spot where you plan to set up the TT and walk around.  If the water is still, you're ok.  If it wobbles significantly, you're going to have issues.  But try the water test just to see what's what.  It can be upsetting to get a new TT, set it up and have it skip every time you move.  Hopefully it will be fine.  

Congrats on waking-up from the digital slumber.  Its important to make sure your turntable is setup properly as, at least for me, that makes the difference between you loving your vinyl or hating it. Invest in a decent phono cartridge.  After being vacated from the analog world for close to 30 years, I found within a few months  upgrading from the stock cartridge that came with my first turntable made a HUGE difference in the sound and my overall enjoyment of listening to vinyl.  And you don't have to spend a lot on a cartridge to enjoy the LPs you're listening to.  My first upgrade was from an AT95 to an Ortofon Blue (which was around $170 at the time) and that was a significant amount of money to me for "just a needle" but I was hearing things on my LPs that I wasn't hearing with the AT95.  Also, when the time comes, a good phono pre-amp makes a big difference.  Its taken me several years to get my rig to where I want it to be and now I am enjoying my vinyl more than ever in my old age.  Be patient and take your time with making adjustments and adding equipment to your system.  Listening to vinyl is a marathon and certainly not a sprint.

Don't be anal about it.  Get a good record brush so you can clean off the worst of it before dropping the stylus.  Buy used.  Dump the stuff you don't particularly like. Enjoy listening to the music; if you like listening to the gear more than listening to the music, you're headed the wrong direction.  Have fun and don't get too serious about it.

Going from digital to analog is kind of like going from boating in freshwater to boating in salt water. Just when you thought taking care of your boat was pretty easy, here comes the salt. Point being, starting analog and moving to digital is probably a much more pleasurable experience than the other way around. However, since you are going down the digital to analog path, my advice is buy used analog only records, clean them well with an ultrasonic cleaner and play them with carts like sumiko starling which is outstanding at minimizing background noise on used albums. And be ready to spend twice as much as your digital end to match it or better it. It will require lots of patience and work, just like a salt water boat.

ddonicht

It's worth bearing in mind that the majority of recordings for at least the past decade have been recorded digitally via Protools or similar DAW.

Personally, I don't see much point in buying expensive vinyl copies of digital source material.

So I do think that there is a good case for purchasing used copies of recordings that are from the era when the recording chain was all analogue.

@clearthinker  So, again we think alike. However, there is no such thing as no surface noise. Even a very quiet turntable will pick up some. It does depend on the volumes you listen at and the genre of music. At classical levels the surface noise is barely audible but at Red Hot Chili Peppers volume it is very noticeable between songs. I do not want other rockers to think their system is deficient because they hear surface noise between songs. It is true that some turntables and styluses are better at reducing noise than others. It seems in particular a function of line contact styluses. The Gyger S, Replicant 100 and OLC styluses are very quiet.

@mijostyn 

How right you are about obsession with record cleaning.

I have had a Nitty Gritty Auto for more than 30 years.  I have 4000+ albums but I now rarely have to clean one.  When I buy an LP (used and new) I play it.  If it is noisy I clean it.  When I got the Nitty Gritty I bought three 50-packs of Nagaoka inner sleeves I use to identify cleaned records. I have been on the last pack for around 10 years now.

I think other posts are correct that the amount and perceived volume of surface noise can depend on the turntable, platter and mat materials particularly.  If you feel you have too much noise, you can experiment with this.

I really don't hear surface noise on my records even listening between tracks with the volume up.  Do other people eat dinner off their albums?

@laoman 

Don't buy Karajan's Ring.  Buy Solti.  It's a better performance and it's on vintage Decca so the recording and pressing quality is second to none.  In the stupid early 90s era when new and used LPs were almost free, I bought a second copy  just because it was it was nearly unused and priced at just £15 or less than £1 per disc.

When choosing albums from the golden era it is worth being picky about label.  As just one example early Rolling Stones and Beatles were on Decca and EMI vinyl respectively.  Both were top quality then, the vinyl I mean.  But even on this material the SQ on Decca is easily recognisable as superior.  Listen to Aftermath, UK pressing.  With 53 minutes of music jammed on one disc the SQ on my 1966 first pressing is brilliantly clear and detailed.  Better than on Revolver 1966, also my original pressing, which is itself pretty good.  By the way, I've had these two 55 years and played them a fair bit and they aren't noisy.  I've never cleaned either of them - no Nagaoka sleeves.

But I agree about Barenboim/Dupre.

Karajan's Ring, Barenboim and Dupre playing anything, Bruno Coulis Norbu, Agaetis Byrjun. There are a few starters for you.

Regarding cleaning, I agree that new vinyl should be cleaned, used as well. I’ve got both ends of the spectrum in terms of cleaning, a Spin-Clean and The Audio Desk Vinyl Cleaner… I actually use the Spin Clean more. If I’m cleaning a few new records it’s the Spin Clean. If I’m doing a lot, or it’s been awhile, I’ll use the big daddy cleaner. It’s actually not good to clean your records too often. Once done, they just get the usual brush etc. works just fine. Careful with stylus cleaning agents, many cart makers advise to not use them, check the manual. Other than that, buy records, have fun. Some will be great, some not so much. You might have to return one here or there. The sky is the limit for analog these days. For now, enjoy what you have!

Biggest and best tip:

Don't buy reissues. If possible buy used original...especially pre-90s.

I bought an 180gram 'audiophile' reissue of a popular Billy Joel album. Came home to find that I had a used version I bought at the Goodwill for 50¢. The thin, floppy 50¢ version killed that reissue!

There are good sounding reissues, but whenever there us an analog original version...most likely...it will be better.

I have reissues that sound almost as good...maybe a few that have been better...but that is very much the exception.

Thank you everyone for the fantastic advice.  It has been very positive and I really appreciate it.  

As a nerd, I tend to research things before I pull the trigger.  The RPM-3 with the Amethyst seemed to be decently reviewed yet not break the bank.  Plus I like the like of that turntable, especially in red (which is what I am getting).  Not a traditional thing but certainly an attention getter.  

I haven't used a record player for close to 40 years and then it was usually in a plastic suitcase and playing an Alvin and Chipmunks record.  This should be a wee bit different of an experience. Also used my parent's 8 track back then and there is no way I will get one of those even if they start to make a comeback (I really hope not). 

I have ordered a sweeper and will look at getting a cleaner in short order. I will admit I read some posts last nights about a Degritter Ultra Sonic and while it seems great, the price seemed rather steep for someone starting out.  The Record Doctor seems more in line for where I am at and what the rest of my equipment is.  At least for now anyway. Since I do a lot of other stuff by hand, like making coffee, I may start cleaning the records that way as well but I want to get more familiar with them before I do. 

 I will be reading through Goldmine Grading Guide after this so I can be more informed about what I am looking at when I go used.  I will also be taking a look at Discogs.  I had mentioned Music Millennium and was planning a trip down there this weekend. But it looks like I have some other stops to make thanks to some locals who know about shops around town I didn't have a clue existed.  

Thanks again for everything thus far.  I have been trying to give back to the community so I have posted a review of my Statements and plan on doing one of the the Voyager GAN amp when it has more hours on it.  I will do the same with the turntable, cartridge, and phone preamp when things start to settle in a bit.  

Last Record Preservative is a great product, which I have been suing since it was introduced. So is Stylast. Last founder Walter Davies was my first high end dealer, when he had a little shop in Livermore, CA.

The albums I have from when I was a teenager… not well cared for generally, sound fantastic. I use a Nessie record cleaner and use Last treatment. My current turntable stylist drops deeper into the groove and produced great sound even from most of those albums. 

Michael Fremer did a little test whereas he played his copy of The Who Tommy kept in a tattered record jacket that he has played hundreds of times. The test proves that records are virtually indestructible if taken care of. It sounded as good as day one. The video can be seen on you tube, Analpg Planet. So don’t be afraid to play your records! Digitizing/recording them is unnecessary, unless you want to of course, which can also be fun.

For used LP buying you’re fortunate to be in Portland!

Music Millennium is great for new LP’s, though you will pay full retail for them. MM also stocks a fair number of used LP’s, and at generally reasonable prices, some as low as $2-$3!

Here are some other good used LP shops in Portland:

- Crossroads Records, 8112 SE Harold Street (just off Foster Road). This is a multiple-vendor operation, one large room with individual sellers. Thousands and thousands of records, so plan for at least a few hours of browsing.

- Jackpot Records, 3574 SE Hawthorne (a block away from Fred’s Sound Of Music hi-fi store). A good little shop with a limited but high-quality inventory. They are also a new reissue label, their release of The Flamin’ Groovies’ fantastic 1976 Power Pop classic Shake Some Action (produced by Dave Edmunds at Rockfield Studious in Wales) due later this month.

- Little Ax Records, 4142 NE Sandy Blvd. (right by the Hollywood movie theater). A small shop, but with very hip inventory. At LA I finally found a copy of Out Of Hand by Gary Stewart. They also had a copy of John Simon’s Journey album, but as I already have a copy (found a few weeks ago at Tomorrow Records---see below), I left it for another person of exceedingly-good taste ;-).

- Tomorrow Records, 700 SE Hawthorne. A medium-sized shop, with a very diverse non-Rock inventory, particularly Jazz (though also plenty of Rock). They also sell 70’s-vintage mid-fi components, if you’re into Japanese receivers, Dual record changers, and JBL-type loudspeakers (I’m not). Great inventory, reasonable prices.

- 2nd Avenue Records, 400 SW 2nd Avenue. This place reminds me of the late-60’s hippie-era shops of my youth, though without the patchouli oil/skunk stink (thank God ;-). Kind of a mess, but with lots of records and associated parapherlania (t-shirts, etc.) at good prices. Very narrow isles inside, metered parking outside.

Of course a Google search will lead you to lots of others, but the above is a good start. Discogs is also a great source, though the seller’s adherence to grading standards varies somewhat.

As for record cleaning: IMO absolutely required if buying used LP’s. Do NOT play a used LP without a deep cleaning first! A vacuum-style cleaner from Record Doctor, Pro-Ject, or VPI, as a minimum.

And then you will need LP storage shelves. Check out the IKEA EKET for a cheap option. A 4-cube 27.5" square assembly for $60, better imo than the LP collector-favorite Kallax (more structurally stiff, with a back panel).

@ghdprentice 

I totally second the hunt for vinyl - much more fun without the internet...

@pindac  - he is spot on about cleaning new vinyl too.

I hope thee administrators don't mind - but the best thread on ultrasonic cleaning is on Whats Best Forum. The Ultrasonic bath for me was £110, the turning wheel about £60 - i made my own drying rack with bits from Screwfix (threaded rod in heat-shrink) i also made my own solutions in a 2 stage process. Quat and isopropyl with distilled water then isopropyl and distilled with a wetting agent. It'll save you money in the long run because it will prevent stylus damage over the years. The chap from Expert Stylus advised me to get some toothpicks - put a thread from a cotton bud - use spectacle lens cleaner - and clean your stylus at the end of each side of a record. Sorry to rabbit on but I explained it as succinctly as possible.

I also have two set up records from HiFi News and Cardas - well worth it. Most importantly don't get bogged down and enjoy yourself - vinyl has a habit of you exploring musical tastes and genres you otherwise will not.

As you have a +$600 Cartridge, usually there is the hope to end up with a 1000 Hours of usage before any concern for the sacrificial stylus is needed, $0.60cents as an approximation per whole Album replayed is a attractive value in todays money spent on Cart's.

As a New to Vinyl user, the disciplines around the cueing of the Stylus is best to be give an additional attention, as this is where many have had there heart wrench moments. Take your time and eye it in, and drop the arm very slowly, this is a method that has shown contamination has collected on a stylus, as the interference can be detected prior to the LP being in contact with the Stylus. don't be shy to make contact in the first tracks play time while confidence is building 

Also if a person is prone to a snooze there are simplistic devices that will lift a Tonearm at the end of a Album Sides replay.

Cleaning the Source Material is a common discussion you are being offered.

I clean using a Manual Method over my Ultra Sound Tank, I feel very confident in my method for removing particle of interest that are less that 10 microns. There is something alluring about listening to a very long term owned vinyl that conjures up a thought of being meticulously clean, it is a pat on the back moment.

I can complete 10 Albums in approx' 1 Hour, so all LP's are cleaned, I don't prejudice against used or new, all get their 6 minutes of specialised attention.

When cleaned I use the method to exchange the paper inner sleeve for a Anti Static Sleeve, the idea of exposing the LP to Micron Particles seems better controlled when the Anti Static Sleeve method is adopted.

If the cleaning discipline, is able to add an additional 500 Hours to a Stylus usage then all is well, and the replay will diminish to $0.40 cents a replay.

If the Cart' is able to be retipped with a Stylus oc choice for a $200ish fee,  and another 1500 Hours is achieved, due to the purification method used for the Source Material,  then the replay is approx' $0.26 per Album, now that is bang for buck. 

High quality cueing is crucial to this equation 🕵

Learn the Goldmine Standard of record grading &  to sight grade a used LP so that you have a good idea of whether it has surface noise. I do NOT buy anything under a VG+ grade. Read the Goldmine grading scale and learn it. Find used sellers that grade  use Goldmine correctly. A VG record does NOT play great. That is sales talk and it is wrong. leave the VG's to the record collectors  who just want it for their collection.

There are lots of new reissues on the market. They are good but generally have the new cost whereas, you can get some good records for $5, depending on your location. It was only 2 yrs ago I picked up some NM in the $1 section. It was some lesser known artists. But I listen to a lot of lesser knowns. Besides, it adds to the thrill when that $1 record has some really good music with no SN. . 😀 There is a lot of good music out there.Have fun

Seems a very nice setup for getting into Vinyl.

Dust cover?

I'd like to hear that cartridge.

Music Millennium? You must be in Portland - like me! Great place. Definitely check out Mississippi Records, Tomorrow Records (lower Hawthorne), Exiled Records (upper Hawthorne), and Dig Vinyl in Sellwood. Discogs online is fun - once you find trusted sellers with great ratings and quick responses and a big supply to choose from.

mijostyn"People will tell you that there is all sorts of garbage on new record. It all must vaporize when I open the jacket because none of it winds up on my stylus. "

Yes and some people believe in unicorns, fairies and honest politicians records are not made in scientific "clean rooms" and all are "contaminated" to some amount, extent, or degree your playing dirty records and not getting the best sound, fidelity, or performance it is that simple.

Hudson Hifi has a great cleaning, care kit for under $30 with everything you need.

Spin clean to clean used records. Also buy extra drying clothes so you can do a bunch at a time. Stylus brush needed to keep stylus clean.  I would play a record only once and digitize to a music server to play from there but that’s  just me. 

As for used records I personally do not buy them. If you do you will need a more aggressive record cleaning device. A "Spin Clean" is effective and inexpensive.

I do not clean new records. I just use the sweep arm. I have thousands of records and a $20,000 record playing device and I do not own a record cleaning machine. People will tell you that there is all sorts of garbage on new record. It all must vaporize when I open the jacket because none of it winds up on my stylus. I can go months between stylus cleanings and I examine my stylus routinely with a USB microscope. All I use is that sweep arm. 

For people who insist on getting into this I suggest saving up and seeding your record collection with 40-50 new records. If you buy just a few records in the beginning you tend to play them over and over until you get bored with them. Then, you go out out and buy a few more repeating the process. What you wind up doing is building a collection of worn records you are tired of. Buy a bunch then add new ones on a monthly basis and you will build a collection of pristine records that remain novel. 

@ddonicht , I usually try to talk people out of getting into vinyl. Then they can't blame me for the mess they get into. Guess I'm too late.

For new records all you need is a conductive sweep arm. It will remove dust from the path of the stylus and discharge any static electricity. I like this one. 

Congratulations. Looks like you picked a good place to start. Your interest in the physicality of the process is why someone should get into vinyl at this point in time.

I would make sure you have a couple new clean audiophile disks to start off. That should give you some feel for what you can achieve with your new rig.

For me the most fun is hunting through used record stores. Good advice from @audioguy85 on picking out good used albums. And yes, a good record cleaning machine is a requirement.

Realize that for clean records the turntable is what determines the amount of surface noise you hear. So, if you really like what you are hearing, future upgrades can buy you out of noise an increase fidelity to amazing heights.

Enjoy. While I stream most of the time, I have 2,000 albums in pristine condition and are great enjoyment to listen to.

Some used LP's:

Where do you live? Near 07062?

another Audiogon member (4th so far) is going thru over 3,000 lps I will be selling in bulk. $5. each for whatever he wants, a few friends need to drop by, then I call the stores who will come make me an offer. They won't give me more than that, so it's a win-win.

Primarily Jazz, heck of a lot played once or twice, then Classical, some never played, Show Tunes, International, some Rock and Pop, some Rock I beat to hell and back.

I'm with @lohanimal Welcome to the wonderful world of replaying the Vinyl LP and allowing the Album Side to play throughout .

Jumping across tracks using a remote, will soon be a distant memory 😀.

If you can stretch a LP purchase to include one very well recorded pressing of a Album of choice, this will serve as a good benchmark, and enable the assessment of other acquired recordings.

Buying Used and the need to clean will go hand in glove, but Buying New and cleaning the residuals from manufacture will also offer a noticeable improvement. 

There are lots of experiences to be encountered and much to learn 👨‍🎓, if the regular usage of a TT takes a hold.

Look forward to how your experiences are shared.    

First of all - welcome to the wonderful world of vinyl.

For record cleaning I recommend going straight to going ultrasonic either diy like me or a full machine.

It’s worth getting a good protractor and also a stylus pressure gauge too

Just to add to my previous response, some make more fuss than there needs to be about collecting and especially the playing of vinyl. With all that is available today, records, turntables, countless cleaning machines, brushes, protractors, etc...it’s actually easier than ever to enjoy and be successful at setting up something that sounds very good. Don’t be intimidated. Once you hear that certain Lp, you will be hooked forever. It is my opinion (JMO) that anyone not involved in true analog is missing out. To only stream your music because of convenience is not being fully engaged in this hobby. People dismiss other formats because they look upon them as old and antiquated. However, there are some lp's that blow away anything digital. Also, if you have a very good cassette deck, you would be surprised how great cassettes can sound. To limit one self to just one format is very boring. 

Just buy lp's and enjoy. Ebay, Discogs, stores, adds whatever you prefer, hunting is nice both physically and mentally.

Get useful tools for setting up, cleaning, study, read, experiment and have fun.

My suggestion is to get your new record player, set it up, play the few records you have and then decide whether you want to continue. Many people prefer the ease of digital, without the need for record and stylus cleaning, TT setup issues, stylus wear…. Just don’t get ahead of yourself. 

Once you accumulate a decent amount of records, I’d advise you to purchase a Record Dr record cleaner. They are relatively cheap and available at audio advisor.

When buying used records, look at them carefully under the brightest light available. Look for excessive signs of play by focussing on the spindle hole area/label. Note if there are excessive amounts of wear and striations indicating it was played to death. Also look at surface of record for excessive wear/scratches. If you see a scratch, tilt the record at an angle in good light. If scratch tends to disappear, then it is not deep and should not play.

I find good used records almost any place I go. I’m always on the lookout. Online, both ebay and discogs can be great sources for both new and used records. Although sometimes people are asking crazy prices.another good source is audiophile usa. 

Invest in some quality inner record sleeves, like those from sleeve city. Be certain that your turntable is level, and check tracking force with a quality digital vtf scale. Maybe later on, invest in a turntable wall mounted shelf for better isolation.

Lastly, don’t fret and make this work...enjoy it and know that record collecting/playing can be a very rewarding experience, warts and all. Have Fun!

One more word of advise is be wary of some new records or reissues, as not all are sourced from analog. A lot of them have a digital source. Older records generally will sound better, as they were cut from the analog tape or source. Then there is the many pressing variations, but that is a whole nother can of worms...

Due to the condition variability  of used LPs sticking to new reissues is a safe plan.