There are quite a few things you can do to make sure your vinyl records sound their best. You can upgrade your turntable, speakers and other various components in your hi-fi system — but that’s an expensive proposition. Or, alternately, you can take better care of what you already have.
That means making sure that your turntable and system are working properly and accurately, as well as making sure your records are clean and free of dust and grime.
From vinyl cleaning kits to anti-static sleeves, record stabilizers to tracking force gauges, we’ve rounded up the best vinyl accessories to help you upgrade the system you have. As of this story’s publication, all cost less than $50, too.
Cartridge Alignment Protractor
AmazonHudson Hi-Fi Stylus Alignment Protractor Tool
A cartridge alignment protractor is an affordable tool for making sure that your turntable’s stylus is correctly aligned with a record’s grooves. You should use one every time you change cartridges or if you notice that your turntable is sounding a bit off. You can go online and print a cartridge alignment protractor for free, but this one by Hudson Hi-Fi is a higher-quality and more permanent option.
