The record shop, for the uninitiated, can feel like foreign territory. The crate-diggers seem to know exactly what they are looking for. The staff seem to speak in catalogue numbers and pressing details. The prices range from pocket change to absurdity.

Ignore all of this. A record collection begins with one record you love, played on any turntable that spins at the right speed. Everything else is optional.

The First Ten Records

Buy things you already know you love. This is not the time for adventurous listening — that comes later, once the habit is established. If you love an album on streaming, buy it on vinyl. The physical object will reveal new things about music you thought you knew.

The Turntable Question

Spend between one hundred and two hundred pounds on a turntable. At this price, several excellent options exist: the Audio-Technica LP60X for pure simplicity, or the LP120X if you want to grow into the hobby. Both will treat your records well and sound genuinely good.