Vinyl best seller The point is not the sound. This is the physical experience: shiny, delicate records; the liner notes are very large; the cover you want to frame and hang on the wall; of course, there is also the way the stylus rotates on the jagged surface, as if by magic The music of your favorite artist is reproduced.

Maybe you have been interested in building settings for listening to LP and 45s, but you don’t know where to start.Maybe you are like WIRED comment editor Julian Chokkattu, he owns a record But no turntable Continue playing. Maybe you are just looking for an upgrade. No problem: there are plenty of great record players to choose from, most of which can be easily connected to any audio system you already have.I have tested many options and these are my current favorites-from practical and affordable classics to more luxurious options Those who seek audiophile voices.

Be sure to check out our other audio guides, including The best equipment for learning music with Best podcasting equipment.

Update June 2021: We have added a new category to “The Most Beautiful Turntable”, which includes Pro-Ject T1 Indoor Plant Edition and Pro-Ject models with other themes.

Gear Reader Special Offer: Get 1 year subscription wired USD 5 (minus USD 25). This includes unlimited access wired.com and our print magazine (if you wish). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.