Turntables are one of those things that seem too good to throw out, especially if there are a lot of favorite vinyl records around from the same era. It seems that everyone who went away to school in the 60s, 70s or 80s has one in their attic or cellar, and they pop up in garage and yard sales all the time. It’s always fun to check out the old Garrards, Duals and other fine old brands on eBay, but if you go that route, try to make sure they are in good condition and will survive the shipping. Even then, plan on replacing the cartridge or the stylus at the very least. You will also probably need a pre-amp that is RIAA equalized. Old vinyl LPs are usually available for a dollar or two in used “record” stores. Once you get a decent turntable hooked up, audiophile quality songs that can converted to MP3s are suddenly everywhere. You will have a fine piece of mid-20th century audio technology, and if you print out a Marcel Duchamp Rotorelief and attach it to the top, you will have a work of art as well.
Affordability: 8 Luxury: 8
