Everyone reaches this stage. The renovation is done, candles are glowing, photo frames are in place. What is next? Most probably it is the thought: should I finally get a record player for my home?

And it is perfectly understandable. Vinyl is having a huge revival — a trend that shows no sign of fading. Plus, turntables just look effortlessly cool, adding instant authenticity and cosiness to any room.

But the real question is: how do you choose a turntable that doesn’t just look stylish, but also delivers proper sound? And what else do you need beyond the player itself? (Spoiler: quite a lot!)

To find out, we turn to vinyl expert Kito Jempere — because it is hard to imagine anyone who knows more about records than he does.

Beginners often get tempted by those little suitcase-style players. And yes, they may look charming, but the build quality is usually poor — with a flimsy plastic tonearm, a cheap stylus, and the wrong pressure on the record. The result? Your vinyl ends up sounding more like an old gramophone at your grandmother’s house, and you lose the magic of what many consider the finest music format ever created.

When played properly, vinyl is unrivalled for warmth and depth. But to truly appreciate it, you need to respect the format and invest in decent kit. With the right turntable and sound system, it feels like you have invited a live musician into your living room, and each evening is becoming a private concert.

Broadly speaking, there are two main types of vinyl setups you might consider for your home.

These turntables are built purely for listening, not DJing. The record spins in one direction, and the whole system is dedicated to playback. There is a wide range of models to choose from, so you can pick one that fits both your home’s style and your listening habits. Still, the benchmark is set by the Japanese brand Technics, long considered the gold standard for vinyl players.

A home setup will always need an amplifier and speakers — not just to make the music loud enough, but to keep it clear and well balanced. We will cover this in more detail later when we talk about the sound system.

Another key part of any turntable is the stylus. It runs along the groove of the record, picking up all its microscopic vibrations. If the stylus is poor quality or worn out, it won’t capture the vibrations properly. FlipSide offers a wide range of needles, with the JICO J44A7 Omnia being the ideal choice for both domestic and DJ turntables.

A DJ deck is built differently: the record can spin both forwards and backwards, allowing the DJ to blend it seamlessly with another turntable. That is why DJs often buy two together, creating a full setup that lets them move smoothly from one record to the next. The Technics 1210 MK2 is the classic example, and still the benchmark.

That said, even a single deck is a brilliant choice — sturdier, more professional, and built to last a lifetime. Unlike a domestic player, it doesn’t always need a separate amplifier, as it can be connected directly through a mixer. A mixer is an audio hub that allows the DJ to run two (or more) turntables, control their volume, and tweak the sound.

Yes — the sound system! A turntable on its own only produces a very weak signal. So, to enjoy music at the right volume and quality, you will need two more essentials:

Without these, your records will either sound barely audible or won’t play properly in the room at all.

To make the right choice, you first need to decide: will vinyl be just background music while you go about your day, or do you want it to feel more like stepping into your own private theatre, with sound that is rich and expansive? That decision will shape both the equipment you buy and how you set it up.

For background listening, you will need two main things: an amplifier (or mixer) and speakers.

When it comes to the amplifier, make sure it is compatible with your turntable (as some come with a built-in phono stage, others require an external one). Amps also vary in sound character — some give a warmer tone, others a brighter one — so it is worth choosing one that suits your taste. When it comes to amplifiers, you can’t go wrong with Technics — the vintage SU-7100 or SU-7700 are real gems. If you would prefer something more affordable and brand-new, Denon is a solid option, and you will easily find it at Raw Music Store.

For mixers, a great entry-level choice is the Pioneer DJM-350 — it is affordable, reliable, and even lets you record vinyl straight onto a USB stick if you need to. If your budget stretches further and you are after something truly special, the rotary E&S DJR400 is a real gem.

When it comes to speakers, studio monitors or a good pair of Hi-Fi speakers are ideal for background listening. Just steer clear of Bluetooth sets, as the quality won’t match and the signal chain won’t be quite right.

The setup itself is straightforward: the turntable connects to the amplifier (or mixer), and the amplifier feeds the speakers. That is the essential chain in either case. If you are only after background music, you can place the speakers in different corners of your flat.

If you are after a more focused listening experience, start with an amplifier and speakers as your foundation, then add a phono preamp. This small device strengthens and refines the signal before it reaches the amplifier, giving you a clearer, more balanced sound through the speakers.

Note: Setting up your sound system properly is just as important as the quality of the equipment itself. Don’t push the speakers into the corners of a room — they need breathing space. Position them slightly apart and away from the walls for the best results.