Many young people born into the “digital age” have probably never heard of a record player or played vinyl records on a record player. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the popularity of record players peaked in 1981, when worldwide vinyl album sales exceeded 1.1 billion. Since then, new 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 age:

The revival of the turntable

There are several reasons why some people, both old and young, prefer turntables. For starters, some music enthusiasts claim that turntables produce richer, more organic sounds because vinyl records contain continuous signals instead of the 44,100-sample-per-second signals found on CDs. Second, nostalgia. Some people who grew up listening to music from turntables 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 Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories album, 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 Canoga Park, California-based turntable vinyl company, claims it produces between 6 and 7.2 million records a year.

The future of the turntable

Although music remains one of the most popular art forms, it is unlikely that the turntable will play a significant role in its consumption in the near future. This is because people want to listen to music while jogging, 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’s not easy to transport. However, they will continue to be a niche product widely used in DJ booths, radio stations, homes, and recording studios.

Some of the key factors to consider when shopping for a turntable at 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. By taking all these factors into account, you will be able to find the best affordable turntable on the market.