Cost: $103.77

Everything comes full circle, they say. That certainly rings true with records because (a) they spin around; and (b) despite the technology being replaced four decades ago by the cassette tape, records have returned. Among our generation, records are all the rage.

Why? Audiophiles will tell you that records deliver a richer, deeper sound. That’s probably true. For us, though, the attraction is more tactile. In an era where we stream our music from a “cloud,” there is something comforting and real about a 12-inch vinyl record. We enjoy the process of thumbing through our collection, removing the record from its sleeve and placing it on the turntable. And, we find having to listen to the entire album instead of skipping to a familiar track to be delightfully inconvenient.

We recently received this Audio Technica Fully Automatic Stereo Turntable System as a gift. It’s simple and does its job well. That is, it plays records. It does not have built-in speakers or
unnecessary bells and whistles. It integrates into your home stereo, connecting via a RCA cable. And, it looks good–decoratively speaking—on a tabletop in our living room.