“Memories are far more indelible when married to the physical world. We love vinyl records because they combine the tactile, the visual, the seeable effects of age and care and carelessless. When we search for the records we lost and sold, we are trying to return to a tangible past.”
-Dave Eggers, author of The Circle

MP3s, or M4As or WMAs or AIFFs or OGGs, whatever your digital format of choice, don’t smell like anything. The device that plays your music—your iPod or laptop or whatever—that may smell like something. But it’ll smell like that same thing whether you’re listening to Foo Fighters or Jay Z. It’s not unique to a particular song or album. Records are something different. They’re physical objects. Big, bulky, inconvenient, easily damaged objects. Vinyl is like skin that changes, in good and bad ways, over a lifetime. Skin gets damaged, intentionally or by accident—maybe it gets burned, or tattooed, or scarred—but it always retains some of its original character. It’s the same skin—it’s just weathered some life. Some of these records—the good ones anyway—have a distinct smell. They might smell like the beach. Or your dad’s cologne. Or when you bought Elton John’s Greatest Hits for two dollars in 1977 at a Lions Club’s garage sale in a recently renovated building that used to be a cherry processing plant, and even a decade after the fact, the record smells like cherries.

Crosley Dansette Bermuda Portable Turntable

No doubt the modern resurgence of the turntable bears testimony to the rekindled romance of listening to one’s music on the purest form it was meant to be heard–analog. And there’s no need to abandon the fun-loving styles from yesteryear. Let Crosley’s reintroduction of the Dansette Series take you to a time where these simple yet iconic styles ruled. In the mid 1960’s, at the height of its popularity, the British-branded Dansette player came to be known as virtually a household staple. These vibrant artifacts clearly define a statement in pop culture from days gone by. This portable player can be taken on the go or attached to the included legs to quickly become a furniture-style statement in any setting. Enjoy your albums in classic style with modern convenience.

Belt-Driven Turntable: The belt driven Dansette Bermuda Turntable plays 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records.

Take It on the Go or Keep It at Home: The turntable is portable with its hard case and integrated speakers, but can quickly be converted to a conversation piece at home with the included stand legs.

Portable Audio Ready: Play tunes from smartphones, laptops, MP3 players and more with the auxiliary input jack.

Full Specs: Portable Turntable, Vinyl-Wrapped, Comes Complete With Matching Stand, Plays 2 Speeds – 33 1/3 And 45 RPM Records, Plays 7″, 10″ & 12″ Records, Belt Driven Turntable Mechanism, Diamond Stylus Needle, Auxiliary Input, Function Select, Dynamic Full Range Stereo Speakers, AC Power Adapter.

Buy here: Crosley Dansette Bermuda Portable Turntable

Electrohome Signature Vinyl Record Player Classic Turntable

Backed by over 100 years of manufacturing high fidelity audio products, Electrohome has paired the design of vintage record players with the technology of modern music systems. Music enthusiasts and casual listeners alike will enjoy an amazing audio journey with the Signature Retro Music System from Electrohome.

Most people have music that lives in more than one place. Whether it’s the warm tones of your favorite vinyl, AM/FM radio, MP3 music from your USB drive, CD, or listening to your smartphone music through the 3.5mm auxiliary input, the Signature Record Player offers a variety of ways to listen to music. The fully automatic belt-driven turntable spins 7, 10 and 12-inch records at three speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute, so you can rest assured knowing that your – and your dad’s – entire vinyl library can be enjoyed.

Each cabinet is handcrafted with real wood and a rich walnut finish. Premium audio components such as the “diamond tipped” needle and tuned acoustic speaker chambers inside the unit give the Signature Music System room filling sound that creates a warm and crisp listening experience. With the natural sound of vinyl, and four high-performance speakers, you’ll hear details that you’ve never heard before.

This versatile system lets you record your favorite vinyl music so that you can listen to it on other music players. With a built-in MP3 encoder it will convert and transfer your vinyl albums to a USB storage device in MP3 format without the use of a computer.

The old-fashioned look will match any décor and make a great addition to any home. Fine details like the amber lighting on the analog tuning dial, rotary control knob and antiqued patina faceplate personifies a truly classic system.

Buy here: Electrohome Signature Vinyl Record Player Classic Turntable

Gadhouse Brad Vintage Record Player 3-speed Turntable

Sometimes, you want to go old school and listen to your favorite songs in all their vinyl glory. Other times, you want to listen to tunes with digital sound quality. Now, there is a record player that lets you do both with one cool, vintage-inspired design–Meet the Gadhouse Brad Record Player with Speakers! The Gadhouse Brad Record Player with Speakers combines the best of the old with the best of the new, allowing you to listen to music the way that best suits your mood! The vinyl record player has a belt-driven 3-speed turntable that can play 7-inch to 12-inch records at 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPMs. When you want to listen to digital music, BlueTooth technology allows you to pair the records player with your mobile device. Instantly, you’ll be able to stream music from your iPod, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet right to the turntable record player, so you can listen with its high quality integrated speakers. Want a solo listening experience? Plug headphones into the 3.5mm jack on the Gadhouse Brad Record Player with Speakers, and no one will be able to hear your MP3s. Patterned after the look of authentic vintage record player designs, the Gadhouse Brad Record Player with Speakers is incredible easy to use. The play and pause lift lever lets you start and stop the vinyl record player simply, and there are volume adjustment and function selection controls intuitively located on the records player for effortless operation. Go from old school to new school and back again, again and again!

Order the Gadhouse Brad Record Player with Speakers here: Retro Green, Grey.

1byone Belt-Drive 3-Speed Portable Stereo Turntable

The briefcase-styled turntable is a perfect combo of trendy elements and retro style with classical color series, making it an enticing choice for those who enjoy the music with the feeling of roaming through the time. It’s a turntable at home in the dorm room as well as the living room, both on the self and on the go. 3 speeds, soft damping control, integrated speakers, RCA/AUX-In, durable PU leather case, and integrated carrying handle…Briefcase Turntable is ready for wherever life takes you.

What’s more, front-facing built-in speakers and tone arm with soft damping control add to its exquisiteness and provide convenient listening in any environment, while included RCA/AUX-In ports allow listening with headphones or connection to your home stereo setup for a personalized experience. Turquoise or black PU leather exterior and briefcase form factor offer an enticing choice for those with eclectic styles who want a turntable that looks great even when the music isn’t playing. Always on the move and need your turntable with you? The hard, durable case and convenient handle make taking 1byone Briefcase Turntable to your next destination a breeze.

Buy here: 1byone Turntable

Crosley Record Storage Crate 

With the Crosley record crate you have the peace of mind knowing that your vinyl records are organized, safe and secure in a cool retro storage crate. Crafted to blend right in at a classic record shop, this crate is not only functional but spews vintage appeal. No record is left behind, with the ability to store approximately 75 records in this crate. Stop stacking those records, and assure the safety of your vinyl with the Crosley record crate.

Buy here: Crosley AC1004A-NA ($29)