In our November 2018 issue, we published an essay, “Record Collecting: Where Do I Begin?” by Terri Bruce. The following is a reader’s response by Kevin Cleary, and it is published with permission.
First of all, I do not consider myself an expert but have been collecting records for years and would like to offer you a few suggestions. I strongly urge you to put together a system to fit your needs and budget, consisting of an amplifier, turntable, and speakers. This allows you to upgrade in the future without scrapping the whole thing. The Audio Technica pictured in the article is an excellent choice. I like direct drive turntables and this unit has a built in phono preamp which allows you to connect it to any modern amplifier.
This turntable also allows you to easily change cartridges and needles. To me, the most important thing in playing records is to use the proper needle. 78 rpm records require a separate needle. Many older record players had a flip-over needle so you could choose the proper size. I don’t want to confuse you, but it is also very helpful to play monaural records with a cartridge designed for them such as the Grado M+. I use a Shure N78s for 78s with good result. Of course, you also need a stereo cartridge for newer records. It is OK to use a stereo cartridge for mono records but, in my opinion they do not sound as good. Many record collectors pref
