5 vinyl products every collector should have (and why they make such a big difference)

If you're truly starting out from scratch on your vinyl journey, there are a few terms you should become familiar with, especially when it comes to your setup and preferences. 

Plinth:

Platter:

Counterweight:

Tonearm: The tonearm holds the cartridge and allows it to glide through the grooves as the record spins effortlessly. There are three types of tonearm shapes: straight, J-shaped, and S-shaped.

Cueing level: The cueing level makes it so that the tonearm lifts and drops slowly, so you don't damage the stylus.

Cartridge: The cartridge holds the stylus and is located at the end of the tonearm. Converts the vibrations into audio. 

Phono Preamp: An audio component that connects the record player and the amplifier. It boosts the audio signal to a level that can be played through your sound system. 

RPM: Stands for revolutions per minute and describes the different types of records. Records are classified as 78, 33 1/3, and 45. You'll mostly find records that are 33 1/3 RPM or 45 RPM.