RecordPlayerLab · Free Course

Vinyl 101 — Learn Everything

28 lessons covering everything from choosing your first record player to reading the dead wax on a first pressing. No fluff, no paywall.

28Lessons

7Units

FreeAlways

Try: "skip" · "clean" · "cartridge" · "reissue" · "anti-skate"

New to vinyl? Start at the beginning Lesson 1.1 answers the question every new record player owner worries about first.

Start Lesson 1.1 →

U1Before You Buy

5 lessons

1.1

Will a cheap suitcase record player damage your vinyl?

Beginner

›

1.2

Do I need external speakers for my record player?

Beginner

›

1.3

What is a phono preamp — and do I actually need one?

Beginner

›

1.4

Automatic vs manual record player — which is right for you?

Beginner

›

1.5

Is a Bluetooth record player worth buying?

Beginner

›

U2How Vinyl Works

4 lessons

2.1

How does a record player work — the complete explanation

Beginner

›

2.2

Record sizes and speeds — 7", 10", 12", 33, 45, 78 explained

Beginner

›

2.3

How to handle and store vinyl records correctly

Beginner

›

2.4

How to set up your first record player

Beginner

›

U3Troubleshooting

4 lessons

3.1

Why does my record skip — and how to fix it

Beginner

›

3.2

Crackle, pops and surface noise — causes and fixes

Beginner

›

3.3

How to clean vinyl records properly

Beginner

›

3.4

Warped vinyl records — causes, prevention and fixes

Beginner

›

U4Cartridge & Stylus

4 lessons

4.1

MM vs MC cartridge — moving magnet vs moving coil explained

Intermediate

›

4.2

What is tracking force — and how to set it correctly

Intermediate

›

4.3

Stylus shapes — conical, elliptical, line contact and Shibata

Intermediate

›

4.4

When to replace your stylus — and how to tell it's worn

Intermediate

›

U5Drive Systems & Sound Science

4 lessons

5.1

Belt drive vs direct drive — which is better?

Intermediate

›

5.2

Why built-in speakers always sound limited — the physics

Intermediate

›

5.3

How stereo works on a vinyl record — the 45/45 system

Intermediate

›

5.4

Wow and flutter — what it is and what numbers to look for

Intermediate

›

U6Advanced Setup & Fine-Tuning

4 lessons

6.1

Anti-skate explained — the most misunderstood adjustment

Advanced

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6.2

Tonearm alignment — overhang, azimuth and VTA explained

Advanced

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6.3

Isolation — stopping vibration from ruining your sound

Advanced

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6.4

The upgrade path — what to improve first for the biggest ROI

Advanced

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U7Building Your Collection

3 lessons

7.1

Where to buy vinyl records — new, used, local and online

Collecting

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7.2

Original pressings vs reissues — which should you buy?

Collecting

›

7.3

How to read a record label — catalog numbers, matrix codes and dead wax

Collecting

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Designed in Atlanta · Built for vinyl Arkrocket Record Players Belt drive, Moving Magnet cartridge, built-in phono preamp, Bluetooth in and out. Every Arkrocket model is designed to sound good from the first record.

Belt DriveMM CartridgeBuilt-in PreampBluetoothAtlanta Brand

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