It’s no secret that the ownership of a vinyl record collection and a turntable on which to play it on is a labour of love. Vinyl records – and their turntables – aren’t as simple as plug-in-and-play, they require care, attention and maintenance to keep them looking, working and, most importantly, sounding their best. But if you’re into vinyl, you knew that already.

Our turntable and vinyl accessory range has grown over the last few years and we now stock some of the best vinyl accessories on the market. These accessories span a very wide price range, so this article brings you the best accessories under £20, all of which are essential purchases to avoid any premature wear to your records or stylus.

QUICK GLOSSARY

If you’re reading this, chances are you already know a fair bit about turntables. For those who don’t here are a few keywords.

• Turntable – the vinyl record player
• Tonearm –  the long arm that sweeps across the record holding the phono cartridge and stylus
• Phono Cartridge –  the rectangular pick-up at the end of the tonearm connecting to the wires in the tonearm and holding the stylus that plays the record
• Stylus – this is part of the phono cartridge – fixed in MC cartridges but can be changed when worn in MM cartridges – and is traditionally referred to as the “needle” – this is what sits in the record groove and reads it

Remember, all prices were correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.

1. Milty Duopad – £6.90

An excellent habit to get into – particularly with albums which get played more often. By using a Duopad on a record prior to playback, you will remove all surface dust. No dust means a cleaner, crisper sound and less wear and tear on the stylus. A few seconds with one of these before playing your record will make a huge difference. It’s perfect for use with CDs and DVDs too.

2. Acc-Sees Pro Vinyl Carbon Fibre Cleaning Brush – £7.19

An alternative to Milty Duopad is the Acc-Sees Carbon Fibre Cleaning Brush. This is a highly popular brush which removes dust and grime from the surface of the vinyl, all the while reducing static build up. The fibres of the brush have been designed to find their way deeply into the grooves, so this is a brush better suited for the albums you play a little less often.

3. Ortofon Mechanical Stylus Gauge – £7.45

In order for a stylus to work correctly, the pressure has to be right – which means it has to be correctly weighted. This pressure un the needle in the grove known as the ‘downforce’ cannot be underestimated – if the pressure isn’t right, the needle will not read the groove properly and the sound quality will suffer. This inexpesnive gauge is a hassle-free way of setting up/adjusting the downforce of the stylus to the manufacturers spec. In doing this you are not assuring a greater sonic quality, but also ensuring the needle and the stylus don’t wear prematurely.

4. Ortofon Libelle Bubble Level – £7.99

Okay, we know that not everyone with a turntable will have the luxury of adjustable shelves, or a turntable with adjustable legs – which are both worth looking into, if you ever get the chance. A level turntable is an effective turntable, and the tiniest waiver will make a difference to the sound quality. If you have the ability to alter the level of your shelf/turntable, or simply wish to check how level you are, this is a worthy little purchase, and worth a little bit your patience and time.

5. Linn Cartridge Alignment Protractor – £9.95

By using this protractor alongside the Ortofon Mechanical Stylus Gauge it is possible to precision tune your turntable, assuring it is set up to perform at its very best. The protractor allows you to make sure the cartridge is correctly aligned in the end of the tonearm. If your turntable comes pre-fitted with a cartridge or the cartridge isn’t adjustable, you don’t need to worry. If it is, correct alignment is worth getting right.

6. Pro-Ject Clean It Stylus Brush – £11.99

Before we go into this, remember: when brushing your stylus, always brush along the length toward you, not away from you. Got that? Okay. The Clean It brush is specifically design to remove dust and grime from the stylus, encouraging cleaner playback and decreasing the chance of premature wear. Partner this up with one of the vinyl cleaning brushes above and you will be safe from dirt-related wear.

7. Roksan LX7 Turntable Bearing Oil – £14.95

This is something of an essential item – if you want your turntable to function perfectly for years, of course. You don’t have to use it regularly, just a few drops on the bearing of the platter ensures a turntable which runs smoothly and effectively. This new lubricant is designed to provide superior hydraulic pressure combined with extra cooling at the contact point. And a little bit goes a very long way.

8. Nagaoka AM-801 Stylus Cleaner – £16.99

A wet cleaner is best for infrequent use on a stylus – and is much more effective than just using a dry stylus cleaner alone. The Hi Clean 801 has a special formula which efficiently dissolves all the sticky substance caught on the stylus and removes this as well as the dirt trapped, all the while being gentle to the stylus itself. Suitable for both frequent and infrequent use – but we’d recommend investing in a dry stylus brush if it’s infrequent. And even with frequent use, the bottle will last absolutely ages.

9. Tonar Nostatic Cleaning Arm – £18.50

A very clever yet relatively unknown product which everyone should know about. We’ve had some excellent feedback and expect its popularity to soar alongside the popularity of vinyl itself (which has grown exponentially over the last few decades). This is a way of ensuring continuous cleaning during feedback as this brush attaches to your tonearm and works whenever your records are playing – removing dirt, dust, grime and static as it goes. A particularly useful item if you don’t have a dustcover, but an excellent accessory even if you do.

10. Goldring Exstatic – 25 Anti Static LP Inner Sleeves – £19.49

Protecting your records while they’re being stored is just as important as protecting them while they’re being played – if not more so! Most records are supplied with paper sleeves, which offer some protection from dirt and dust, but nowhere near as much as a plastic sleeve would. What’s-more, a plastic sleeve will offer protection against scratches – vinyl’s greatest enemy. It may not be the most exciting accessory, but that doesn’t make it any less important.

We know that cleaning and maintenance of your vinyl isn’t the most exciting topic out there -we’d much rather discuss the technology or the music – but cleaning and maintenance is very important, for any vinyl owner, and failure to do so will often result in damages – and expensive replacement costs. Consider the purchase of the above items, or a selection of them, as insurance – inexpensive insurance. Look after your vinyl and it will look after you. Tenfold.