What You Should Know If You're Considering Buying a Turntable for Personal Use

Even as iPods continue to gain popularity, there are still surprisingly large numbers of people who collect records. The record player has a nostalgic vibe that heightens the appreciation of classic titles. It just sounds raw, edgy, and more real than digitized music. I always say, "you haven't really heard The Beatles until you've heard them on vinyl." However, turntables are not limited to the classics. When delving into this turntable culture, you'll soon learn that record players are not the exclusive domain of older music; many of your favorite contemporary bands still release albums on vinyl! This unique playback device still captivates audiences with its great sound, vintage aesthetic and affordable album prices.

But is a turntable right for you? Will it really heighten your listening experience? There are two common misconceptions about record players that cause many to turn away from turntables. Upon learning the truth about these issues, you'll be better prepared to make a well informed decision about potential turntable purchasing.

Music format interchangeability: The beginning turntable enthusiast should know that a record player does not compete with a person's music collection, it adds to it. You may initially worry about spending money on records that seemingly will never leave your apartment-but upon investigation, you'll learn that your records can easily become mobile. There are many ways to transfer songs from a vinyl album to MP3 format for easy use with an iPod or other MP3 playing devices. The easiest way to transfer songs to a computer is by purchasing a turntable with an attached USB cable for easy plugging into any computer. Other options include routing the record player's output to the computer through the PC's microphone jack. If you're more interested transferring vinyl to CDs, transferring to a computer with a CD burner is a viable option. Additionally, some current record player models even support onboard CD burners.

Album availability: Newer turntable owners also sometimes get wary of product availability. Many secondhand stores contain old records, and certain used bookstores or music sellers have a great vinyl selection. Moreover, if you're looking to contemporize, most major record labels still sell vinyl at very reasonable prices. You won't be able to pick up the newest hit on vinyl at a big name CD store, but many local sellers will carry vinyl along with other great niche products. And if all else fails, the Internet is full of vinyl retailers, from major storefronts to individual sellers on eBay. With the popularity of vinyl records among DJs, this great musical format will not be going anywhere in the near future.