{"id":153,"date":"2026-03-31T00:50:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T22:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/?page_id=153"},"modified":"2026-03-31T01:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T23:04:11","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New to vinyl collecting? We get a lot of the same questions from beginners. Here are some honest answers to the most common questions about turntables, pressings, and building a collection on a budget.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Getting Started<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q: How much does it cost to start collecting vinyl?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: You can start collecting vinyl for around \u20ac200-300 total. Here’s a realistic budget breakdown:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turntable: \u20ac100-150 (used Audio-Technica AT-LP120 or AT-LP60 on Marktplaats)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speakers: \u20ac80-100 (Edifier R1280T or similar)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First 10 albums: \u20ac30-50 (charity shops, \u20ac3-5 each)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessories: \u20ac15-20 (inner sleeves, cleaning brush)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total: \u20ac225-320<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don’t need a \u20ac500 turntable or \u20ac35 albums from Urban Outfitters. Buy used equipment and hunt at charity shops, and you’ll save hundreds of euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Which turntable should I buy as a beginner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Look for a used Audio-Technica AT-LP120 (\u20ac100-150) or AT-LP60 (\u20ac50-80) on Marktplaats. Both have adjustable counterweights, decent cartridges, and won’t destroy your records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to look for in ANY turntable<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Adjustable counterweight (essential)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Anti-skate control<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Replaceable cartridge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Belt or direct drive (both fine)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to AVOID<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Crosley or Victrola suitcase players (they damage records)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Anything without a counterweight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Turntables under \u20ac50 new (too cheap = poor quality)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Where can I find cheap vinyl in the Netherlands?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: The best places to find vinyl under \u20ac5:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charity shops (kringloopwinkels): Go on weekdays, not weekends. Check Emmaus, Het Goed, and local thrift stores. Most albums there will be around \u20ac5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Record fairs: Show up early (within first hour). Prices range from \u20ac1-15. Dealers are more willing to negotiate near closing time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marktplaats: Search for “vinyl lot” instead of specific albums. People selling bulk collections often price them low just to clear space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online: Discogs for specific albums, but expect to pay market price. Use it to check values before buying in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facebook Marketplace: Similar to Marktplaats. Good for local pickups and bulk lots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Should I buy new or used records?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Both. Here’s when to buy each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy USED when:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– You’re on a budget (charity shops have albums for \u20ac2-5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The album is common (Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– You don’t care about having a “mint” copy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– You’re experimenting with new genres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy NEW when:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– It’s a new release you want to support<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The used market price is the same or higher<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– You want a guaranteed clean pressing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– It’s a smaller artist who benefits from your purchase<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of my collection is used. I only buy new for artists I want to directly support or albums I can’t find used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Browse carefully. Enjoy your music.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Turntables & Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q: Do I need a preamp?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Maybe. It depends on your turntable and speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your turntable has a built-in preamp: No, you don’t need one. Most modern turntables (like the Audio-Technica AT-LP120) have one built in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your turntable does NOT have a preamp: Yes, you need one. You can buy a separate preamp for \u20ac20-40, or use a receiver\/amplifier with a phono input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to tell: Check if your turntable has a switch labeled “Line\/Phono” or “Preamp On\/Off.” If it does, it has a built-in preamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Can I use Bluetooth speakers with my turntable?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Technically yes, but we don’t recommend it. Here’s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole point of vinyl is high-quality analog sound. Bluetooth compresses audio, which defeats the purpose. You’re adding a digital conversion step to an analog format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better option: Use wired powered speakers (like Edifier R1280T for \u20ac90). They’re affordable, sound great, and don’t require an amplifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you must use Bluetooth: Make sure your turntable has Bluetooth output built-in, or buy a Bluetooth transmitter. But seriously, just get wired speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Do I need expensive speakers to enjoy vinyl?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: No. You need DECENT speakers, not expensive ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A \u20ac100 pair of powered speakers (like Edifier or Presonus) will sound infinitely better than a \u20ac60 Crosley suitcase player with built-in speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diminishing returns kick in fast. The jump from \u20ac50 speakers to \u20ac100 speakers is huge. The jump from \u20ac100 to \u20ac500 is noticeable but not life-changing unless you’re an audiophile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spend your money on records, not gear. A \u20ac100 speaker setup is perfectly fine for 99% of collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: My records keep skipping. What’s wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: 99% of the time, it’s your setup, not the record. Check these four things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Is your turntable level? Use a bubble level. Even a slight tilt causes skipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Is your tracking force correct? Check your cartridge manual. Most need 1.5-2.5 grams. Too light = skipping. Too heavy = groove damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Is your stylus clean? Gently brush it with a stylus brush or use a cleaning gel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Is your anti-skate set correctly? It should match your tracking force (e.g., if tracking force is 2g, set anti-skate to 2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve checked all four and it still skips, THEN it might be the record (warped, scratched, or damaged).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Records & Pressings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q: How can I tell if a record is in good condition before buying?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Check these things in this order:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Visual inspection:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Hold the record at an angle under light<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Look for deep scratches (bad) vs light surface marks (usually okay)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Check for warps by looking at the edge while it sits flat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Grading scale (Discogs standard)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Mint (M): Perfect, unplayed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Near Mint (NM): Looks new, minimal signs of handling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Very Good Plus (VG+): Light marks, plays well<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Very Good (VG): Visible wear, some surface noise<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Good (G): Heavy wear, significant noise<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Poor\/Fair: Damaged, skip city<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. At charity shops\/fairs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Ask to play it if possible<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– If you can’t play it, assume VG condition and price accordingly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Walk away if it’s deeply scratched or warped<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General rule: VG+ and above is safe to buy. VG is acceptable if the price is right (under \u20ac3). Anything below VG is a gamble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Should I clean records before playing them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Yes. Always. Even new records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– New records have factory dust<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Used records have years of accumulated grime<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Dirty records sound worse and wear out your stylus faster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to clean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIY method (\u20ac2 total):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Distilled water + 1 drop of dish soap<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Spray on record, wipe in circular motion with microfiber cloth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Let dry 5 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This works just as well as \u20ac30 cleaning kits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Full Rotation Specific<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q: Do you sell vinyl?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: No. We’re an affiliate marketing blog. We recommend products (turntables, speakers, cleaning supplies) and earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re transparent about this. All recommendations are products we actually use or have tested. We don’t recommend garbage just for commissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q: Can I submit a question not answered here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Yes! Email us at info@fullrotationrecords.com or DM us on Instagram @fullrotationrecords<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We reply to every message and often turn common questions into blog posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Still have questions? Email us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse our blogs here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New to vinyl collecting? We get a lot of the same questions from beginners. Here are some honest answers to the most common questions about turntables, pressings, and building a collection on a budget. Getting Started Q: How much does it cost to start collecting vinyl? A: You can start collecting vinyl for around \u20ac200-300 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":109,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-153","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156,"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/153\/revisions\/156"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullrotationrecords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}