Indeed.I love new technology, and have masses of CD's, but I also have a large collection of records as well, and although the sound quality itself is obviously not as good, there is something very special about the process of placing a record, lowering the tone arm, and enjoying a different listening experience whilst admiring the album covers artwork.Music downloads may be the future, but the purchasing & listening experience just isn't the same now.Some albums really do benefit from being remastered on CD like all my Jean Michel Jarre stuff, but some music just sounds better or right on vinyl.

Many don't come with the mat.

I'm afraid to say, that whilst with some turntables that could be true, it also has a lot to do with the condition of the vinyl record, and whether it was a good pressing.I have a lot of experience with turntables having sold Panasonic/Technics in the 80s, and whilst this one will in no way compare to one of those, it is very convenient, however the general rules for playing remain the same as with all turntables if you want the best experience, and not damage your vinyl.So whilst I'm no audiophile turntable expert, I just like to enjoy my music and the experience that goes with it, here's a few of my tips which may be useful, and have served me well since my dad let me play my records on his Sony Music Centre in the late 70s!
Firstly, clean your vinyl, especially if you've just picked it up in a charity shop or eBay, this is very important as the tracks or grooves on the record itself are very fine, especially on an LP, so you don't want any dirt or grime to move the needle.How to do this is up to you, there are certainly lots of expensive gadgets and fluids, but I wash my vinyl in soapy water with a soft cloth wiping around the disc not across (not too hot it may distort! and avoid making the label damp), rinse, dry carefully with a microfibre cloth or very soft towel, and then carefully place in it's inner sleeve avoiding touching the surface, within the main sleeve, and then you'll only need to give a light dust off perhaps before playing.
Look at your vinyl! hold using the centre label and outer edge, or opposite outer edges, you don't want grease from your fingers on the record, and inspect for any damage, ripples, or major scratches, if it has any then these could indeed cause the tonearm to jump which may damage the stylus or cause more scratching to your vinyl, so either bin :disappointed: or just avoid playing that section of the record :smiley:.Also check the pressing, does the record rotate on the platter so that it appears to lay mostly flat? that's good.If it appears to wave or undulate, then it's either a bad pressing or perhaps heat damaged, I can vaguely remember an episode of Blue Peter making something like a bowl out of a vinyl record by heating it in hot water which makes it very pliable, good fun for an unusual gift idea perhaps, but unless the record is as flat as possible, the tonearm is going to have a hard time keep on track, and ripples may jog the stylus out of the groove and possibly scratch the surface.
Clean the stylus itself with a very fine soft bristle brush, I use a small infants toothbrush not side to side, but with a light back to front motion.
Lastly, do not be tempted to place coins or weights on the tone arm or cartridge to offset a poorly pressed record, you're just creating more wear on the stylus and record, and unfortunately that's the nature of vinyl, just like tapes shed oxide.
If all that hasn't put you off vinyl records or turntables, you'll be pleased to know that unlike CD's they are more forgiving if they do have fine scratches, and although it all sounds like hard work, it's not difficult to keep your records in tip top condition.
Be honest, what would you rather own for your money? a music download that sits on your phone, is digital so has great sound quality and convenience, but you have nothing to show for it.Or a 12" LP, which you can actually physically hold in your hand and admire, keep on a shelf to build a collection, and feel like you've got something for your money, not to mention the difference in sound.

Back to this deal I posted, and I have to say it's a great little unit for the price.Sure the case itself is a bit cheap, but looks good all the same with the chrome fittings, and actually the fact it can be recharged and used cordless is very useful.As a take and play anywhere solution for playing records I think it's brilliant, just like my very first old Dansette way back in the 70s from a jumble sale.Sure the speakers are very limited in output and range, and it's all plastic, not the finely balanced lump of Chrome I had on my old Technics, and certainly no stroboscope for adjusting the pitch, but you know what, that doesn't matter (You can hook up to your amp or HiFi BTW), I can switch of my critical HiFi hearing for a while, and just enjoy listening to my records again after all these years, and that's as much about the experience as it is the music or quality.Despite all the horror stories with all the Audiophiles claiming this will destroy my vinyl, I've been using this everyday since Christmas, and not had a single incident of the tone arm either jumping or the stylus scratching my vinyl, although as you can tell my records have been well looked after which obviously helps.If you're considering buying new vinyl which is relatively expensive then you'll obviously want something better if you want to take it seriously and fully appreciate, or at least hook up to some decent speakers, but for me it was just a way of listening to my old collection again wherever I wanted, and for that purpose this performs brilliantly.
Sorry, it's taken so long, but I hope this helps balance out the pros and cons of this record player, and similar.It's taken me many years to shake off being so critical of everything, it's what I was trained for in consumer electronics sales, great for my sales, but ruined my experience of watching and listening, as I was constantly observing, and trying to find perfection in everything, instead of enjoying.Now, after all these years and with much less disposable income than I had then, and perhaps less interest, I find that at last I can mostly just enjoy for what it is.

Don't panic! No, it's not, as long as some precautions are observed, so take a look at my long post which may help.