How to Listen to Vinyl in 2023

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), sales of vinyl records have increased by 61%. Unlike digital music and CDs, it is not simple to ‘rip’ or transform your vinyl to another format – and you wouldn’t want to. You are listening to the vinyl for the way it authentically sounds.

This raises the question of what you are using to enjoy your records. A basic turntable may suffice in playing your records but be overburdened with features that might not be the best musical reproduction for your vinyl. There are many options available within your budget that can bring the most out of the vinyl grooves.

Linn Majik LP12

The Linn Sondek LP12 is one of the longest products on the hi-fi market, the original Sondek LP12 was released in the 1970s. Over the years, Linn’s continued investment into improving an already game-changing piece of home audio equipment.

LP12s are modular and upgradable. When it is time to upgrade your turntable, you can upgrade the tonearm, bearing housing, motor, and more without entirely replacing it. Sondek LP12s from the 70s are upgradable to the latest configurations.

The Majik LP12 is Linn’s entry-level offering for music lovers. It is positioned to take advantage of the latest releases from Linn, equipped with the Karousel bearing housing for smooth and consistent platter rotation and the upgraded Krane tonearm. You can choose an Adikt moving magnet or Koil moving coil cartridge.

At Audio Genesis, we have been a Linn specialist for over 30 years and have experience in Sondek LP12s of all different stages. You can audition the different levels of LP12s, including the Majik LP12 in our Sydney location.

Price: $6,995 (MM); $7,395 (MC)

Technics SL-1200GR

The Technics SL-1200 has an established reputation for direct-drive turntables, with over 3 million sold. Returning to the market in 2016, the SL-1200G combined Technics’ traditional analogue and advanced digital technology with trickle-down improvements introduced into the SL-1200GR.

Direct drive turntables provide consistent platter rotation speed as the motor is located directly underneath with no belt or element to impede its rotation. As the motor is directly connected to the platter, there is vibration from the motor movement that the cartridge can pick up. However, for a direct drive turntable, the SL-1200GR has isolation and mechanisms to reduce this impact on your music.

Price: $2,749

Rega P3

Rega’s turntables surprise in their ability to reproduce high-quality sound without the need for a suspended base. Instead, the Planar 3 uses a lightweight acrylic laminated plinth and a brace system that increases rigidity between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing. This rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonance, which will add unnatural distortions to the music.

Price: $1,499

Dual CS 418

Dual offers a versatile plug-and-play turntable with the CS 418. This entry-level model offers the ease of simply plugging the turntable into your amplifier with its built-in phono stage. Additionally, allowing you to play records at 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM.

The CS 418 can be the first step into the higher bracket of extracting more from the grooves of your vinyl.

Price: $999

Conclusion

There are many options for turntables for you to select from. The best way to choose the right one for you is to listen to your vinyl on the turntable for yourself. If possible, audition the turntable on a home audio system comparable to the one you use to give you a guide for its musical reproduction when you take it home.

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Prices as of writing, contact us to confirm and arrange an audition.