THE RECORD STORE DIRECTORY
Explore our collection of record store articles — from area guides and road trips to personal stories and features on vinyl culture.
Which turntable accessories change how your records sound and last, which depend on your setup, and which are mostly decoration. Sorted honestly, with a tap test.
How to buy a cassette player or deck, why belts are the thing that fails, tape types and Dolby explained, and how to care for tapes without ruining them.
How to choose speakers for a record player, whether you need an amplifier, why room size beats budget, and the free placement changes that beat an upgrade.
What to buy at each price bracket, what changes as you move up, and the used option that beats both. Plus the budgeting mistake that costs beginners the most.
How to buy a CD player now, from integrated hi-fi units to transports and portables. What actually matters, what to skip, and why used players are the value.
How long a stylus lasts by tip profile, the signs it is worn, why waiting damages your records, and how to swap one yourself in about a minute.
Why suitcase record players wear grooves down, the mechanical reason it happens, and what to buy instead at the same price. Plus what to do if you already own one.
Which record cleaning kit fits your collection, from a thirty dollar brush and fluid to ultrasonic machines. Picked by how many records you clean, not by price.
How to clean a CD without ruining it. Why you wipe center to edge instead of in circles, which side is actually fragile, what fixes scratches, and what disc rot is.
How to clean vinyl records properly, from the dry brush before every play to deep cleaning with distilled water. What to use, what to avoid, and when a machine helps.
Browse the full Record Store Directory — every state, every territory, every shop we can find.