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Everyone’s collection of records is unique, and having a designated display stand, complete with shelving and a spot for your turntable, is a must for anywhere you listen to music. These shelves vary in size, shape, and storage, so here’s what you need to know when finding the right one for you, your space, and your music archive.
How to Pick the Best Turntable Stand
Consider the below criteria when shopping for the best turntable stand or storage piece.
Shelving: Take inventory of what you have, and more importantly, what you’re planning to get in the future as your collection grows. Will you be adding a bigger receiver? More records? Also make sure there’s enough headroom if your record player has a hinged top and needs space to open up. Even for players that don’t have a connected top, leave some room for whatever kind of covering goes over it to keep the dust and debris away.
Assembly: More than likely, these are going to arrive at your house unassembled. That can be a little intimidating for listeners who aren’t as savvy with tools, but the good news is that all the ones we tested were simple to put together, usually just with a hammer and screwdriver, but sometimes not needing any tools at all. If that’s a concern though, go for one that’s extra easy to snap together.
Weight: A stack of records is a heavy load, so check to see the weight capacity of how much the shelf you’re eyeing can hold. As a reference, 100 records can weigh almost 40 pounds. And though it may save space, never stack your records horizontally or flat — the added, crushing weight can warp, bend, or break them. Even if there’s plenty of room, we don’t recommend keeping your speakers on the same surface as your turntable — the vibrations can make the needle jump and skip, and dampen the sound being pumped out depending on your player.
Extras:Displaying the current record that’s playing is a really nice touch when you’re listening to your favorites, and some units include a specific groove or stand specifically for this. A hook, usually on the side, to hang your headphones is really convenient too, though if it’s not included, it’s easy and cheap to add on your own.
