At the end of last year, sales of vinyl records reached 2.11 million copies for the first time in the past 30 years, the highest level since MRC Data began tracking vinyl record sales in 1991.
A large part of the reason is that after the vinyl industry has continued to be sluggish under the impact of the epidemic outbreak, the vinyl industry has a clear trend of "bottoming out" throughout 2021 and is expected to continue to improve in 2022.
Top 10 global vinyl record sales in 2021
Moreover, more and more people are no longer satisfied with the listening habits of the digital streaming era, but are turning to a more retro and textured way of listening, that is, playing vinyl records.
People's demand for cultural and entertainment consumption is growing, and the requirements for personal quality of life are becoming more and more abundant. In such a situation, buying a good cost-effective vinyl record player has also become a hobby and pursuit of many people.
What we can't deny is that the textured sound, thick bass, and flexible original timbre transmitted by the vinyl record player can never be replaced by network technology.
However, nowadays, there are more and more choices of record players, and how beginners should choose the first machine in their lives has become a headache for many people. Between appearance and performance, how should it be compared and measured?
In order to relieve everyone's confusion and entanglement, we have specially selected 5 high-quality vinyl record players with both appearance and function here, hoping to provide some suggestions and help to enthusiasts who have just come into contact with vinyl. Without further ado, let's take a look at what products are worth getting started!
Even if you haven't had vinyl experience before, you've probably heard the name Pro-ject from the Austrian brand.
Pro-ject is a cost-effective vinyl turntable brand, and its founder, Heinz Lichtenegger, is an avid super vinyl player in his own right. Heinz's professionalism and insights over time as he was keen to advise his friends on audio equipment were recognized by audiophiles, which built his reputation in the audio industry and founded Project in 1991.
Today's pro-ject T1 vinyl record player has been released a few years ago, but it will not be eliminated at all, minimalist design and real high performance, has always been loved and recognized by vinyl record players junior players.
Along with the T1, the T1 Phono SB with built-in sing-and-play tuning and the T1 BT with bluetooth, both of which were based on the Pro-ject T1 model, were modified.
Pro-ject T1 is more special to distinguish from other brands in that it designs a glass platter, in addition to the beautiful appearance, this glass platter is also a very important "zero resonance" design, avoiding the defects of plastic or light steel substitutes. Carefully selected turntable feet also isolate the T1 from the ambient vibrations around the hi-fi system.
The record player uses a motor-driven belt system connected to a secondary platter mounted on an ultra-precise 0.001mm main bearing. In addition to the designer's meticulously crafted motor system, the T1 is equipped with a rotating platform that guarantees a smooth and anti-resonance carbon boom and cartridge.
The difference in appearance between the T1 Phono SB and the T1 and T1 BT is that there is an electronic switch with a speed adjustment that can be selected at 33 rpm and 45 rpm. Among them, the improvement of the T1 BT is that it is equipped with an additional Bluetooth transmitter, and the player can transmit wireless music to the Bluetooth speaker or headphones.
In addition, in the configuration of the tonearm, phono and other parts, T1 BT, T1 Phono SB and the standard version of the T1 are the same, and everyone can choose according to their personal needs.
In terms of the color of the product, Pro-ject T1 has a choice of black, white, and log colors, each color is difficult to refuse, and friends with difficulty in choosing may need to struggle for a while.
Price: about 3500 yuan
In 1971, Harry and Robert Kotovsky founded the Numark brand in New Jersey. Numark introduced the world's first mixer, DM 1775, in 80 years with a built-in sampler, a machine that helps you record and play back samples instantly.
Numark TTX USB
Then, Numark also launched a breakthrough TTX record player in 2002, bidding farewell to the traditional square design of the record player, TTX refreshed everyone's cognition with rounded line design, and demonstrated a new design standard for the industry.
Among Numark's many products, the numark PT-01 is the best choice for mini record players in terms of petite shape and beautiful price. This "portable record player" brings a new generation of DJs, allowing you to use your favorite Scratch records for unlimited scratch and playback.
That is, with this machine, everyone can become a DJ. It allows you to make your own solo shows anytime, anywhere, and have a "battle" with your friends, indoors and outdoors, regardless of space restrictions.
As more and more Scratch DJs don't want to stop Scratch fingers on various occasions, portable turntableism has been making waves in the circle. Some device companies have launched products that target this phenomenon, but don't seem to have captured the essence of it.
However, the emergence of Numark's record player perfectly solves everyone's previous confusion. "All-in-one" has built-in mini speakers and is pushed sideways in one.
Supreme has also launched a co-branded product with numark PT-01
Equipped with Numark's exclusive "Adjustable Scratch Switch" switch (adjustable scratch selector), Numark PT-01 provides an unprecedented scrubbing function, which can be adjusted with your habitual hand, whether left-handed or right-handed, you can choose by adjusting, just after a simple loosening of the screw action, you can adjust to your liking.
Don't look at its pitcher appearance seems to be more "plastic", in fact, it is still very leathery, and at the same time supports 33/45/78 rpm records, which is very practical.
In addition to Scratch and the fun of playing music, the record player can also record vinyl records into digital files and transfer them to a computer via a USB connection.
Highlights also include a 3.5mm input port that facilitates sound input such as mobile phones as accompaniment. At the same time, it is equipped with rca output and is equipped with 2 size headphone outputs, which is very user-friendly.
Finally, in terms of power supply, the Numark PT-01 Scratch is equipped with a transformer power supply that can be plugged in and can be connected to the bottom to fit 6 D-type batteries. With this record player, you can walk the rivers and lakes, go wherever you go, rub it!
Price: about 1200 yuan
Vinyl enthusiasts who have a strong pursuit of home taste and product design must not ignore Gramovox. This vinyl record player with "classical soul, modern type" not only does not lose the convenience of digital music, but also allows more people to experience the charm brought by vinyl.
Gramovox's design philosophy is to make the historic turntable go from "lying flat" to "erect". When your beloved record is spinning, the music is like showing you every frame of a glittering historical documentary.
The reason why the turntable can be erected is because of the propeller shaft on its wooden base, which is rotated by driving the record with a silicone belt. Its motor uses an almost aviation-grade rotary motor that is almost rare in the industry, which can meet your picky requirements for smooth and noiseless.
The Grammys use carbon fiber tonearms to ensure long-term stability, no matter how long they are used, they will not deform, and they are lightweight and will not cause crushing on the record. The phono head uses an iron triangle phono for durability, and the pitcher is a precision-machined ultra-elliptical needle tip with a thinner edge that provides wider access to high-frequency grooves.
Don't look at it looks "big size", but it is definitely a value for money. Not only is the sound quality saturated and transparent, but also the submersible elasticity is extremely large, and the resonance is cleverly controlled, and there are two 15W tweeter speakers in front of the fuselage.
Its midrange is mellow, enduring and airy; the treble is translucent, delicate, saturated and transparent; and there's a 4-inch subwoofer at the bottom. Thanks to the independent woofer, the bass performance is very good, both diving and explosive.
In addition to vinyl records, Bluetooth connection to play music, if you have other better amplifiers/speakers, the expandable area at the rear of the fuselage can also support RCA or AUX external more professional audio equipment.
Watching the traditional flat-bed vinyl record player, and then watching Gramovox's Spiting Record Player, it's really a joyous thing, even if it doesn't put music in the home is a pleasing work of art.
And use it to listen to music, so that the whole process is full of ritual sense -
Imagine taking out a record you like, putting it on the turntable, letting the record float and rotate in front of your eyes, and the color of the record itself begins to swirl out with the music, and the music becomes three-dimensional.
As the brand's philosophy goes, thanks to the color cover and vertical design of the record, the different singers really seem to be slowly speaking in front of you, taking you into a state of deep listening.
Price: about 4000 yuan
Sony has always been "brain-opening" in the research and development of music equipment, as early as 1973 to develop a smaller tape recorder, and then under the leadership of one of the founders, Saeo Morita, at that time, the revolutionary "Walkman" Walkman was grandly launched.
After this, Sony was unable to carry out reform and technological innovation, and in the 80s, when other brands were still developing boxy shape record players, Sony invented the world-famous "chainsaw record player" PS-F9.
But in addition to being creative in design, Sony's quality has always had a very good reputation, such as the PS-HX500 and PS-LX310BT two record player models launched in recent years.
Among them, the Hi-Res certified PS-HX500 model, which converts analog vinyl tracks into high-fidelity digital audio in DSD format, also meets the needs of most music enthusiasts and professionals.
The PS-HX500 is Sony's first vinyl record player after the recovery of vinyl records, with a new design concept, a less retro look, and more modern elements. The thin and light body no longer uses heavy materials such as wood or metal, but the vinyl record player has high requirements for suspension, so the PS-HX500 is specially designed with centrifugal mounted foot nails, which can effectively reduce the resonance of the fuselage.
The all-black lightweight design perfectly presents a full sense of design, and is the first choice of many vinyl beginners. If you are full of ears, you can also feast your eyes at the same time.
The PS-HX500's unique secret is not only to play music, but also to have track ripping function, which can convert old records into digital files, up to 5.6MHz DSD files, and digitize old records with the highest fidelity, permanently preserving them.
Therefore, PS-HX500 at that time once released has attracted the attention of the majority of enthusiasts, sales are also relatively hot, the current Sony China online mall PS-HX500 is in a state of out-of-stock.
The tonearm is a place that must not be sloppy, in order to take into account the light weight and sturdiness, sony PS-HX500 uses a uniform straight tone tone arm, which can strengthen the stability of the phono head, improve the accuracy of the record pickup, and obtain a high-quality sound. At the same time, the lightweight design also optimizes the resonant frequency of the tomearm and enhances the musical expression.
In terms of phono, the PS-HX500 uses a dynamic magnetic phono and uses a round phono shell made of aluminum alloy die castings, which can avoid corner resonance and reduce the rendering of timbre.
Price: about 3500 yuan
In 1965, Panasonic established its audio and record player brand Technics, which was initially launched for enthusiasts, but to this day, Technics has long been the best partner for many vinyl enthusiasts and professional DJs.
Although the Technics SL-1200 MK model is not more "beautiful" than some of the record players introduced above, and the price is not friendly to many beginner enthusiasts, But Majestic believes that it should be called the most cost-effective and longest-lasting phono in the phono industry.
Why? First of all, the Technics SL-1200 MK series is arguably the most influential model in the entire DJ industry. Especially for traditional hip-hop DJs, this machine opens up new possibilities for those Turnablist (turntable players).
For pitch control As an important aspect of mixing technology, the SL-1200 provides the most perfect and convenient interpretation, coupled with its powerful function manufacturing, which greatly improves the use of the phono machine, far exceeding most models with beautiful appearances but lack of core.
This is why there are still many SL-1200s circulating in the second-hand market today, and most knowledgeable people prefer to find a genuine, uneducated used Technics SL-1200 rather than a "misused" vinyl record player.
With two Technics record players connected to the mixing console, the phonograph is transformed into an instrument in the hands of DJs and Turntablists through the adjustment of the sound effect knobs and the custom arrangement of the songs. Your interaction with the music is absolutely personal, but also infinitely creative.
In addition, it is also important that many 1000-3000 yuan or so record players are belt driven, and the Technics SL-1200 is the drive of the motor direct drive turntable.
The advantage of the direct-drive vinyl turntable is that it avoids the problem of aging the belt of the drive-type turntable, while another flash point is that the speed of activation is significantly faster. At the same time, it also eliminates the need to adjust the belt every time the 33 rpm and 45 rpm record switch, and you can do all the actions with the push of a button on the machine.
Of course, talking so much about technology and DJ usage, it's not that the Technics SL-1200 MK series isn't for the average player to buy. Instead, it may be the most suitable machine for basic enthusiasts to consume.
One of the most straightforward reasons is that whenever you get into the vinyl pit, your ears will only become more and more "tricky", and the texture of the sound will become more and more picky. The Technics record player completely erases the hollow, thick sound that digital technology brings, but instead has a flexible and layered sense of hearing.
Again, as we just mentioned, its service life is outstanding among many record player products, and it has room for upgrading, both for simple vinyl record listening and for djos. In this way, instead of spending money to upgrade the equipment at home again and again, it is more affordable to start a Technics "once and for all" to get a technics.
Price: about 8800 yuan
We need music, and we need a record player that interprets music perfectly. Hopefully, with them, these wonderful notes will bring you a lot of healing moments in the impetuous moment!
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Text Assistant for this issue: J
The author is a contracted author of NetEase News and NetEase "Each Has An Attitude"
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