Best selling vinyl point is not sound. It’s the physical experience: shiny, refined records; large inscription lined notes; the cover you want to frame and hang on your wall; and the way the stylus spins across the jagged surface, recreating the music of your favorite artists as if by magic.
Maybe you’ve always been interested in building a setup to listen to LPs and 45s, but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you are like WIRED review editor Julian Chokkattu, who owns a record but no turntable to play it on. Maybe you’re just looking for an upgrade. No problem: There are plenty of great music players to choose from, and most of them will easily connect to any sound system you already own. I’ve tested quite a few options, and these are my current favorites — from handy, budget-friendly classics to more luxurious options for audiophile-class sound seekers.
Be sure to check out our other audio guides, including The best device for learning music and Best Gear Podcasting.
Update July 2022: We have added Monolith by Monoprice 600045.
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