Many young people born in the “digital age” have probably never heard of vinyl records on a record player or heard them. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the popularity of record players peaked in 1981 when worldwide sales of vinyl albums surpassed 1.1 billion. Since then, newer technologies, such as CDs, DVDs, iPods, and smartphones, have revolutionized the way people store and listen to music. However, the turntable is far from dead. With that in mind, here’s a look at the relevance of the turntable in this modern era:

The revival of the record player

There are several reasons why some people, both young and old, prefer turntables. For starters, some music enthusiasts claim that turntables produce richer, more organic sounds because vinyl records contain continuous signals rather than the 44,100 samples per second signals found on CDs. Second, nostalgia. Some folks who grew up listening to music on a record player find the act of playing vinyl records more satisfying than opening mobile apps for the same reason.

These factors have forced some record labels and even artists to put new releases on vinyl records. According to a New York Times article, six percent of the album Random Access Memories by Daft Punk, a French electronic music duo, was on vinyl records. Other musical acts and artists who have taken a similar approach include Vampire Weekend, Front Bottoms, and National. Rainbo Records, a company that prints vinyl for turntables based in Canoga Park, California, claims that it produces 6 to 7.2 million records a year.

The future of the turntable

Although music remains one of the most popular art forms, the turntable is unlikely to play a major role in its consumption in the near future. This is because people want to listen to music while running, driving to work, or during their lunch break. You can think of it as music on demand. Unfortunately, a turntable is unlikely to be of much use in any of these scenarios because it is not easy to transport. However, they will remain a widely used niche product in DJ booths, radio stations, homes, and recording studios.

Some of the key factors to consider when purchasing a turntable from an electronics store include features, build quality, cost, and cartridge type. The cartridge is particularly important because it houses the stylus that reads the grooves on a vinyl record. With all these factors in mind, you will be able to find the best buy affordable turntable on the market.