While there is no denying the convenience afforded to music fans by the digital music revolution, vinyl records are still popular among audiophiles. CDs and audio formats like MP3s and WAV files use digital sound, while record players provide analog playback. Digital sound compresses the sound wave, while the sound wave is unaltered by record players, providing a richer and purer sound.

While many have made the transition to CDs because of their portability and convenience, there will always be fans who want to purchase their favorite music on vinyl records. In a best-of-both-worlds scenario, you can connect many modern turntables to your computer. If you own the record, you can listen to the original analog sound at home on your best speakers, but also make CD or MP3 mixes from your records to take on the road with you.

Record players are not just used by those you have old collections of LPs, but also by club DJs. DJs can work with an individual record player or connect two together and use accessories like crossfaders. For the more tech-savvy DJs, there are also hardware accessories that imitate the actions that you can perform with traditional record players.

Today, you can also find laser turntables available on the market. Like CD players, these turntables read the information using a laser rather than a needle. Consequently, there is less wear on the record, so you can play your vinyl collection without worrying about damaging priceless albums. While digital music is the dominant format of the day, record players still have an important place in audio systems, both for collectible records and in clubs.