Vinyl for Beginners: 3 Tips to Get Started

Vinyl record sales have been on the rise for the last decade, and in 2022, a report by the Recording Industry Association of America showed that sales of vinyl records had eclipsed those of CDs for the first time since 1987. While physical purchases still only make up 11 percent of all music sales, vinyl sales brought in $1.2 billion. 

So perhaps those people who claim that “vinyl just sounds better” are onto something. 

“When I put a record on, it has a warmth that digital sounds don’t,” says Chip Noland, owner of Ledo’s Pizza in Annapolis and a vinyl  enthusiast. “There’s a tone coming off the vinyl that you don’t find anywhere else.” 

Noland has been collecting records since his parents gave him AC/DC’s Powerage record for his 11^th birthday. He kept up his appreciation for vinyl while acting as a DJ for his college radio station. Today, he’s amassed a significant personal collection and regularly attends vinyl shows around the Mid-Atlantic, where he buys, sells, and trades. 

If you’re interested in starting your own vinyl collection, Nolan shares a few tips. 

1. Check out secondhand markets. The look and appeal is one thing, but “a vintage Pioneer receiver from the ‘70s will totally change the sound back to where it was meant to be when the album was recorded,” he says. This was the premium age of sound quality, and finding the right pieces will make a difference. 
2. If you buy new, don’t buy the cheapest thing out there. There are plenty of vintage-looking models on the market, but the poor sound quality will turn you off almost immediately. Further, poor cartridges can damage vinyl. It’s worth it to do a little research ahead of time and get a good setup. The brand Nolan recommends is Audio Technica.
3. Attend some record shows. While streaming services are great, there is an incredible amount of music that hasn’t been digitized, and you’ll find it at a record show by browsing bins. Just don’t expect to  see new artists there. 

Nolan is the organizer of the upcoming Naptown Vinyl Record Show, hosted by Maryland Hall on April 28. Many of the vendors will be bringing their niche collections, so this is a great time to find one-of-a-kind recordings of your favorite artists. 

“It’s really a great thing,” Nolan says. “When you attend record shows, you’re going out and talking to people about music. You’re having conversations, getting some incredible information. And that’s fun.”