

Having a big box of miscellaneous records can also give you an immediate taste of the joy that comes from crate digging and musical discovery. Like any music collection, your vinyl haul will grow over time, but it can be nice to have more than a couple of records to begin with. Ever wondered how a vinyl record makes a sound? Find out here.
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Take a look at our articles on how to choose the right record player and how to add a turntable to your existing music system for more in-depth guidance. So don't be put off by the photos you see of stacks of components and big dusty stereo speakers if all you want is to turn your Sonos system into a vinyl-playing smart machine then you can do so and still get great sound. Other than that, though, the turntable market is now so diverse that there is barely a situation left it cannot accommodate. We have seen some going up to double figures, though, which is the equivalent of giving a toddler a sewing needle and letting it go to town on your record – not ideal if you're about to spend hundreds on a collection. This is easy to find on any spec sheet, and should usually be between 1.5g and 2.5g – maybe a bit either side.

If there's one number you focus on when buying or setting up a turntable, it should be the tracking weight of the cartridge. You don't have to spend loads of money to get something safe – take a look at our best buy page for cheap record players, for example – but some of those briefcase-style decks you see in lifestyle ads can dig up more than the music from your vinyl's grooves.

Boring, we know, but if you don't start with a good source component then not only will your records sound awful, they're also liable to become damaged.
