Christmas gift ideas for vinyl enthusiasts & record collectors
- Lists
- November 14, 2023
So if you're looking for inspiration, this is a pretty extensive list of record care products, turntable accessories, and vinyl-related items we recommend, whether you're trying to choose the best possible present for a friend, family member, or yourself.
BIG FUDGE Professional Series Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit
The Big Fudge Professional Series Record Cleaning Kit is an all-in-one set that has everything you need to clean your vinyl and stylus. An ultra-soft anti-static velvet brush, 50ml of record cleaning fluid in a spray bottle, stylus brush and a stylus cleaner gel, conveniently stored in a padded zip-case.
Buy here →
Other record cleaning kits:
- Boundless Audio Record Cleaner Kit →
- KAIU Vinyl Record Cleaner Kit →
- Vinyl Buddy Ultimate Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit →
- Vinyl Styl Ultimate Vinyl Record Care Kit →
Audio-Technica AT6013a Dual-Action
The AT6013a record cleaner is comprised of two anti-static carbon-fiber brushes, situated on either side of a central velvet pad, and all work together to collect dust and other contaminates in a single pass over a record. A metal guard bracket protects the brushes and pad when not in use.
Buy here →
Other record brushes:
- Boundless Audio Record Cleaner Brush →
- Facmogu LP Cleaning Brush →
- Ortofon Record Brush →
- Pro-Ject Brush It →
KAIU Anti-Static Turntable Stylus Gel Cleaner
A generous blob of polyurethane gel that helps gently remove dust build-up from your stylus, housed in a durable solid oak wood case with a built in mignifying mirror to check stylus tip after cleaning. It offers an effortless, brush-free dry cleaning method for your turntable stylus.
Buy here →
More stylus cleaners:
- Audio-Technica AT617a Cartridge Stylus Cleaner →
- DS Audio ST-50 Stylus Cleaner →
- Hudson HiFi Turntable Stylus Cleaning Gel →
- Onzow ZeroDust →
HumminGuru S-DUO - Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaner & Stylus Pressure Gauge
The HumminGuru S-DUO is a compact device that combines ultrasonic stylus cleaning and a digital pressure gauge to measure the downforce of your cartridge. The cleaner side uses 110kHz ultrasonic frequency to create cavitation bubbles to remove dust, grime, and hardened dirt off the stylus tip. The process takes about 20 seconds and uses about 3-4 drops of water for the ultrasonic bath. There is no physical contact with the needle so it is risk-free to the surface of the stylus.
Buy here →
Spin-Clean Record Washer MKII
The Spin-Clean is an easy to use, manual record cleaning machine, consisting in a patented washer tray, two removable velvet brushes which scrub both sides of your vinyl at the same time, and a pair of removable rollers that keep the record safe from damage while you rotate it. The kit comes with a set of drying clothes and a 4oz specially formulated concentrated washer fluid enough to clean up to 700 records.
Buy here →
Other record cleaning systems:
HumminGuru Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
A professional record cleaning machine that uses sound waves to create cavitation bubbles in a bath of water that requires no contact with the vinyl during the cleaning process. It is powerful to remove the contaminants and dust on your vinyl record without causing any damage. The effectiveness of the drying process is achieved by a duo fan system that dries the vinyl record from both sides, getting it ready to play in just 5 or 10 minutes. An air filter at the area of air intake also prevents any external dust blowing back to the record during the process.
Buy here →
Hudson Hi-Fi Record Mitt
Package of 3 record handler mitts with a soft microfiber material on the inside that act like antistatic gloves and allow you to easily grip and control your vinyl, without getting oils, sweat, and fingerprints on them.
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Pro-Ject Record Puck
A functional and elegant 800g record stabilizer with a polished brass finish and a felt pad on the underside for the protection of the record label. This heavy weight puck ensures a firm fit between the record and the platter, that reduces vibrations, helps with optimum playback of warped records, and improves the sound performance of the turntable.
Buy here →
Other record weight stabilizers:
- Audio-Technica AT618a Disc Stabilizer →
- Femeli Record Weight Stabilizer →
- Fluance HiFi Vinyl Record Weight →
- KAIU Record Weight Stabilizer →
Nobsound Record Clamp
A record stabilizer with a clamp mechanism around the center spindle, that secures the record to the turntable platter without adding extra weight on it. Its pressure can be fine-adjusted according to the condition of your warped records by the knob on top.
Buy here →
Other record clamps:
45 Adapter
A small solid aluminum turntable accessory that is indispensable for playing 45 rpm 7" records with a large center hole.
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Feir Rubber Platter Mat
Made of a proprietary silicone rubber composite material, this 1/8" (2.3mm) thick platter mat provides a 12-inch flat, scratch-resistant, and non-slip surface for your records. The anti-static material also absorbs micro-vibrations generated by the turntable and allows the stylus to better contact the grooves of the vinyl. Compatible with all standard turntables, it fits all 12" platters and will conform to your turntables spindle. The recessed center of the mat allows records to lay flat on the turntable regardless of label thickness.
Buy here →
Fluance Turntable Cork Platter Mat
Fluance's 0.12" (3mm) thick cork mat dampens unwanted platter micro-vibrations and reduces static (prevent dust build-up) due to the insulating properties of the material. It fits all 12" diameter platters and has a 0.5mm record label recess in the center, allowing your vinyl to lay perfectly flat and provide full contact with the surface of your records.
Buy here →
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Anti-Static Inner Sleeves (50)
These three-ply, anti-static, premium record sleeves (similar to rice paper), used in Mobile Fidelity record packaging for the last 35 years, will keep any collection clean and dust-free. The back construction consists of a paper layer sandwiched between two sheets of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a translucent HDPE front.
Buy here →
Other inner record sleeves:
- Facmogu Paper Poly Lined Inner Sleeves (20) →
- Hudson Hi-Fi Anti-Static Vinyl Record Inner Sleeves (100) →
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Outer Sleeves (50)
A pack of 50 archival-quality sleeves to protect your record covers against wear, denting, scuffs, and all sorts of debris. Featuring 4mil thickness they're sized just large enough to provide a close fit while allowing enough room to accommodate most gatefold jackets.
Buy here →
Other outer sleeves:
TunePhonik Two-Sided Laser Etched Wooden Record Dividers
Set of six precision laser-cut, durable wood record dividers with dual-sided tabs, that are ideal for organizing and alphabetizing large collections stored on shelves. They are ready to use right out of the box with no assembly or labeling required.
Buy here →
Other record dividers:
KAIU Vinyl Record Storage Holder
A minimalist take on the original KAUI record stand, this compact storage unit is made of high quality wood and strong, break-resistant acrylic, and can hold up to 50 records. Available in multiple colors, and dimensions of only 11.6"(L) x 8.4"(H), it takes up minimal space and can blend nicely with any decor color scheme or furniture. The clear acrylic also keeps the record covert art visible all the time.
Buy here →
45 LIVE Now Playing Record Stand
Crafted from durable, high-quality stainless steel, this now playing stand is designed to support records by their label, virtually eliminating stress to the cover. A protective mat on the base of the stand also makes sure that the unit doesn't do any damage to your furniture.
Buy here →
KAIU Floating Wall Mount Record Shelf
Designed with the purpose of beauty and simplicity, it offers a great way to display album covert art. Made from high grade solid oak, this wall-mount floating shelf is intelligently designed so the plane on which the record is placed is at an angle, preventing it from falling forward. It only needs two screws to be installed on the wall.
Buy here →
Audio-Technica AT-HPS700 Headphone Stand
A specially designed, arched headphone stand, crafted from anodized aluminum with a detailed blast finish, that provides optimal support for the headband and earpads. It comes with non-slip pads and includes a cable wrap accessory for easy cable management.
Buy here →
Other headphone stands:
Pangea Audio Vulcan TT Turntable Stand
Borrowing technology from Pangea Audio's Vulcan audio rack series, which is famous for being rigid and stable, the three-shelf TT Turntable Stand comes with a heavy-duty top platform for a turntable, a component shelf for holding another piece of gear, and a specially-designed bottom shelf to hold 100+ records. It features a steel frame and premium 0.625"-thick MDF shelves with attractive and durable scratch resistant finish. The steel X-brace adds strength and rigidity to the stand, reduces lateral motion and minimizes vibrations. The Vulcan TT features tapered cones and carpet-piercing spikes which prevent floor vibrations from influencing the turntable's performance. For hard surface floors, the unit comes with a set of four Mini Sonic Saucers to protect the wood or tile finishes.
Buy here →
Other turntable stand:
IsoAcoustics zaZen I Isolation Platform
A stable isolation platform designed for turntables, tube amps and other sensitive audio equipment with a 25 lbs (11.3 kg) weight capacity. The combination of the mass from the dense fiber construction platform with the integrated isolators creates a high degree of isolation, allowing turntables and electronic components to perform at their best, revealing greater acoustic clarity and detail.
Buy here →
Ortofon 2M Red premounted on headshell
A good upgrade from stock cartridges, the Ortofon 2M Red featuring an elliptical diamond is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth. The included universal headset fits a wide range of S-shaped tonearms, and enables an easy installation.
Buy here →
Other cartridges:
Audio-Technica AT6003R Cartridge Storage Case
The AT6003R is designed to store three sets of headshells with mounted cartridges, with each capsule having a side slit, leaving an opening for the headset's finger lift. The case holds the headshells securely in an upright position, while the rubber feet on the bottom of the case provide stability.
Buy here →
Schiit Mani 2 Phono Preamp (MM, MC, MI)
With super low noise and high RIAA accuracy, plus flexibility for pretty much any cartridge (moving-magnet, moving-coil, or moving-iron), the Mani 2 sets the standard for performance and capability in an affordable phono stage. It offers a number of gain and input loading options, accessed via dip switches on the underside of the unit.
Buy here →
Other recommended phono pre-amps:
- Cambridge Audio Alva Solo (MM) →
- Pro-Ject Phono Box DC (MM/MC) →
- Rega Fono Mini A2D (MM) →
- U-Turn Audio Pluto 2 (MM) →
AKG K240
The AKG K240 features an integrated semi-open air design with a highly accurate dynamic transducer for naturally open sound quality, and circumaural (around-the-ear) pads for hours of wearing comfort. A self-adjusting headband with a flexible steel structure delivers optimum fit, while the gimbal-type suspension ensures the earcups will conform to the shape and size of your ears without pressing on. The headphones come with a 3m detachable cable for easy replacement if ever necessary.
Buy here →
Other good headphones:
Numark PT01USB Portable Turntable
The Numark PT01USB is an ultra-portable, feature-packed turntable that is tough and durable, so you can take it with you anywhere. Powered via batteries or AC adapter, it can play 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM records and has a pitch control of ±10%. It features a built-in speaker, but you can also connect it to external speakers via RCA outputs, or enjoy private listening using headphones via the 1/8" headphone jack with adjustable volume. The USB output allows you to easily digitize records. It comes with a cartridge, 45 RPM adapter and protective dust cover, and has a built-in carrying handle for easy transport.
Buy here →
Pro-Ject Debut PRO with Sumiko Rainier Cartridge
The Debut PRO turntable is the best model yet in Pro-Ject's popular Debut Series. It's similar to the classic Debut Carbon, but benefits from some notable upgrades that offer even better sonic performance. An 8.6" one-piece carbon-aluminum tonearm offers superior rigidity and low resonance, with adjustable vertical tracking angle (VTA). A high-performance Sumiko Rainier cartridge is factory-mounted and precision-aligned on the tonearm. The heavy aluminum platter features a TPE ring inside for improved resonance damping. The playback speeds (33/45/78 RPM) are electronically controlled with precision, which ensures the most accurate and stable music reproduction. Three height adjustable damped aluminum feet ensure the perfect stand & massively reduce risk of acoustical feedback.
Buy here →
SELEKTOR Classic LP Bag
A convenient tote bag with 2 carrying straps made with Cordura fabric, featuring water resistant and UV protection treatment. It's main compartment holds approximately 30 records and has a front pocket for cables or accessories. It has anti-shock protective padding on front, back, bottom and sides.
Buy here →
Revolution: The History of Turntable Design
An essential book for audiophiles, collectors, and design fans, Revolution showcases the fascinating history of turntables and vinyl technology from the 1950s to today's cutting-edge designs. Written by Gideon Schwartz, author of Hi-Fi: The History of High-End Audio Design, who is an audio design expert and passionate about analog music, this book includes 300 illustrations from the world of turntables, from affordable to high-end, and everything in between.
Buy here →
Other books:
- A Vibration Measuring Machine →
- Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks →
- Around the World in 80 Record Stores →
- Dust & Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting →
Gakken Toy Record Maker Kit
A toy record maker that allows you to easily cut novelty, lo-fi records at home. Designed with universal usability in mind, the compact unit has a simple interface and is able to cut blank vinyl discs and play them back instantly. Consisting of a cutting arm as well as a playback tone arm, the machine is unique in its functionality. To cut a record, the user simply plays audio through the provided auxiliary cable or USB and then lifts the cutting arm onto a blank disc. Once the record is cut, users can instantly listen back to their recording through the tone arm and inbuilt speaker. The provided blank 5 inch vinyl records can be cut on both sides.
Buy here →