Listen Up! A Vinyl Sound System Can Rock Your World

By Julie Young House and Home Feature Writer

Vinyl albums offer an experience in listening that cannot be replicated by a compact disc or a streaming service. From the cover art to the liner notes and the elements of the tracks themselves, it is a feast for the senses that has enjoyed quite a resurgence in recent years. If you are ready to discover (or rediscover) all that vinyl has to offer, it’s important to find the perfect sound system to rock your world!

and keeps its speed there is not much more that you can do with that component.”

Starter Sets

Julie Hershberger at Ignition Music Garage in Goshen says it’s no surprise the accessible, affordable and portable Crosley suitcase record players have been a huge hit with young hipsters discovering vinyl for the first time. They hearken back to the vintage players of the 50s and 60s, but it is important to remember you get what you pay for. While it is not a bad starter set for kids, they do not last long, their cartridges cannot be upgraded and they only take one type of needle, which tends to wear down re cords quickly.

“The two most important things about a turn table are the cartridge and the nee dle,” she said. “As long as it has its parts

As for speakers and receivers, that’s another story. Hershberger says her favorite system at the moment is the Audio Technica LP120 that comes equipped with a built-in phono preamp and USB output that can accommodate bookshelf speakers (sold separately) for a fuller sound. At nearly $500, it is not as affordable as a Victrola or Crosley (Under $100) but it does not require a receiver to give you a decent output.

“If you really want that warm, full sound then you are going to need a receiver and a good set of speakers,” she said.

Upgraded System

For those music lovers looking for a more rounded set up, a receiver is a solid purchase and gives you more than a mere amplifier can. A receiver not only amplifies sound but also has a built-in radio component. Put simply: all receivers are amplifiers but not all amplifiers are receivers. Experts rate the Yamaha R-N303BL the best overall ($549) while the Sony STRDH190 2-ch ($168) has the best value. Like receivers, speakers come in a variety of sizes and prices depending on your need. While Hershberger likes brands such as JBL, which makes a $149 model that has been called the best entry-level speaker for vinyl, another popular choice that won’t break the bank is the Polk Audio T15 100-Watt home theater bookshelf speakers ($99).

Of course, once you have your vinyl system set up, you’ll want some classic albums to listen to. While you can’t go wrong with something like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth album, Hershberger says there is one title she returns to time and time again.

“Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon on vinyl is just amazing and the remasters are just as good as the original,” she said. n