Vinyl 101 - Record Player Lab

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.

28
Lessons
7
Units
Free
Always





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 →

U1
Before 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

›

U2
How 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

›

U3
Troubleshooting
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

›

U4
Cartridge & 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

›

U5
Drive 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

›

U6
Advanced Setup & Fine-Tuning
4 lessons

6.1
Anti-skate explained — the most misunderstood adjustment

Advanced

›


6.2
Tonearm alignment — overhang, azimuth and VTA explained

Advanced

›


6.3
Isolation — stopping vibration from ruining your sound

Advanced

›


6.4
The upgrade path — what to improve first for the biggest ROI

Advanced

›

U7
Building Your Collection
3 lessons

7.1
Where to buy vinyl records — new, used, local and online

Collecting

›


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 Drive
MM Cartridge
Built-in Preamp
Bluetooth
Atlanta Brand

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