Happy Record Store Day!
We hope you're out and about at your local independent record store, shopping for some new vinyl, or simply enjoying spinning your record collection at home. With Record Store Day 2025 landing this Saturday 12th April, our editorial team (and a few special guests) have spent all week celebrating all things turntable and vinyl-related.
Our Vinyl Week special has been packed full of fascinating features and useful advice, from handy tips on collecting records, whether the weight of a vinyl record makes an impact on sound quality, why hunting for old vinyl can be more rewarding than buying new re-issues, and even a fresh perspective on how using a turntable differs from CD and streaming.
Some of the world's top turntable manufacturers have shared their favourite records with us, which included personal stories on how an album or track made an impact on their lives and how they design turntables.
We've published reviews on three very different turntables, including the unique Audio-Technica Sound Burger, while our editorial team has offered advice on how to set up a turntable correctly to get the best performance, and what to look for when choosing the right spinner for you.
We've also explored a more sustainable future for vinyl, brought real-life insights from independent record store owners on current buying habits, and run down the 20 best turntables we've reviewed in the past 50 years.
You can stay updated with all the latest features, advice and reviews by heading to the Vinyl Week hub, or simply check out all the links below. We're also posting exclusive videos and images on our social media (as we dig into our 50-year magazine archive), so head to Instagram and Facebook for some turntable treasures from the past.
As ever, thank you to our readers who have commented and shared their vinyl collection and turntable memories so far. Vinyl Week may be over soon, but we all know we'll be spinning records for the rest of the year...
Reviews
- Audio-Technica Sound Burger (AT-SB727): not just a novelty; this is a charming, fun concept with plenty of appeal
- Vertere SG-1/Xtrax high-end turntable: spectacular in appearance, engineering and sound quality
- Pro-Ject T1 Evo BT turntable: an easy-to-use record player that successfully balances performance, features and affordability
Features
- My most valuable record: What Hi-Fi? staff reveal their most precious vinyl possessions
- The 20 very best turntables of What Hi-Fi?'s lifetime
- We asked 8 of the world's top turntable designers for their favourite records – here's what they said
- Is 180g vinyl worth it? We asked several hi-fi manufacturers if a record’s weight can impact sound quality
- Unsurprisingly, our readers own a lot of vinyl, but cost and quality are now big concerns
- 5 special edition record players that demand to be seen and heard
- I have listened to my favourite music on vinyl, CD and streaming – and the differences go far beyond sound
- We reveal 10 top music journalists’ most treasured vinyl records: Tom Petty, Motörhead, The Doors, plus some big surprises
- Old is gold: why I massively prefer buying old vinyl to new
- We asked three record store owners what young people are buying – and their answer wasn't Taylor Swift
- Now that vinyl record sales are on the rise, is there a more sustainable way to manufacture them?
- We pick 9 of the best Record Store Day 2025 releases – Sam Fender, De La Soul, Waxahatchee and more
- I interviewed three independent record store owners – and they have one big piece of advice for vinyl newbies
- From voice to vinyl: how records get their groove
Advice
- Best turntables 2025: top record players tested by our expert reviewers
- How to store records: 9 tips for keeping your vinyl tip-top
- Buying your first record player? Here are 8 questions you should ask yourself
- I’ve just planned my Record Store Day – here are 4 tips for shopping success tomorrow
- 9 tips for new or returning vinyl fans that will help you on your record-collecting journey
- How to spot fake records: 10 tips to avoiding counterfeit vinyl
- 13 of the best turntable accessories to elevate your vinyl experience
- How to set up a turntable correctly and get the best sound
- How to easily add a turntable to your music or TV system
- How to choose the right record player for you
- Best high-end record players: from Linn to Michell to Technics – ultimate premium turntables tested by our review team
- How to change the cartridge on your turntable
- Best Bluetooth turntables: top wireless record players tried and tested
