6 Accessories Vinyl Enthusiasts Can't Live Without

When you’re hooked on vinyl, it’s easy to rattle off a list of equipment you can’t live without. For starters, there’s your turntable, a definite “must-have,” and your speakers probably make the list as well.

But, just as guitarists collect effects pedals and cyclists attach GPS units to their handlebars, we vinyl enthusiasts love our accessories. Over time, many accessories start to feel just as important as our turntables and our record collections.

Some vinyl “accessories” are actually vinyl essentials

We’re about to explore a variety of vinyl accessories that are sure to heighten your listening experience. However, you will notice that the phono cartridge and phono stage are absent from our list. In our view, these items aren't vinyl accessories – they're vinyl essentials.

After all, you can’t listen to records without a cartridge, and not all turntables come with one. You also can’t connect most turntables directly to speakers. You've got to convert your turntable's phono signal to an AUX signal first, which is why a phono stage is necessary. A phono cartridge and a phono stage are as essential to your setup as the record itself. You simply can’t listen to your favorite music without them.

With that caveat out of the way, here are six accessories that no vinyl enthusiast should do without.

1. Spin Clean Record Cleaner

Wet cleaning is the way to ensure your records are perfectly clean. 

This machine is a wonderful solution that has been made in the USA since 1975. We feel wet cleaning is essential if you are buying used records. It gives your records a bath with some safe scrubbing brushes to get anything that might be stuck deep in those grooves. Everything from tap water residue, to smoke, or spilled drinks, the Spin Clean will remove them all.

 

3. MoFi Electronics LP #9 Stylus Cleaner

Your stylus gets dirty, too. A lot of people forget to clean it, which is a fatal mistake if your goal is to achieve the best possible sound.

To prevent dirt and dust build-up on the stylus, apply MoFi LP #9 Stylus Cleaner after each record play. The cleaner removes dirt from your stylus and prevents hard deposits from damaging your records.

We like MoFi because it’s safe for any kind of stylus – no abrasive chemicals that will damage your setup!

 

  1. MoFi LP #9 Stylus Cleaner MoFi LP #9 Stylus Cleaner
    Rating:
    93% of 100
    $25.00

4. LAST Power Cleaner

When you don’t want to take the time to do a cycle with a wet cleaning machine, the Last Power Cleaner is a great option.

It is strong enough to remove most of the gunk in the grooves and perfectly safe for your records. Developed by chemists in the 70s, LAST products have proven the test of time.

 

  1. LAST Power Cleaner Last Power Cleaner
    $49.00

4. MoFi Original Master Sleeves

How you store your records matters just as much as how often you play and clean them.

That’s why it’s a good idea to store them in professional-grade sleeves. The right sleeves not only prevent scratching – they also keep out dust and other contaminants that could make your records dirty.

MoFi Original Master Sleeves are a three-ply, anti-static, premium sleeve that consists of a paper layer sandwiched between two sheets of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a translucent HDPE front. It’s a far cry from sliding your records into a plain paper sleeve, and that’s a good thing.

6. A Used Record Pricing Guide

Ok, this is not technically a vinyl accessory, but it will definitely help you identify and price great records. 

The Goldmine Record Album Price Guide (available as an iBook) lists over 70,000 vinyl LPs from 1948 to today and helps you understand the value of each one. Discogs is a growing online database of used records that is not as extensive but has an easy-to-use app. 

For example, say you’re sifting through a bin of old records at a garage sale. You come across something that looks interesting, and you think it might be valuable. One of these guides will reveal whether you’re about to score a gem or help you know if the record isn’t so special after all.

 

You might get by without these accessories, but…

You want clean records, a clean stylus, and a lifetime of optimal sound from your vinyl setup. So, why go without top-grade cleaning and storage accessories?

Whether you’re new to vinyl or just need a way to get better sound from your existing equipment, these accessories can help. You are sure to notice the difference – especially after years of listening to hundreds of records.

Eventually, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them.


If you have any other questions, please feel free to send us a message or chat with us.