10 Must-Have Record Player Accessories

Dust, grime, and residues act as physical impediments, causing noise and permanent groove damage. Effective cleaning is restorative.

• Dry Brushing: For light surface dust & static (insufficient alone).
• Manual Wet Cleaning (e.g., Spin Clean): Better for embedded dirt, but bath can get contaminated.
• Vacuum RCMs (e.g., VPI, Okki Nokki): More effective fluid/contaminant removal, fast drying. Higher cost, can be noisy.
• Ultrasonic Cleaners (e.g., Degritter): Pinnacle for many; uses cavitation for microscopic cleaning. Most expensive, can be slower.

Key: Cleaning fluid chemistry (purified water, IPA, surfactant) is critical. The "cleanliness threshold" for audible improvement depends on record state and system resolution.

Inner Sleeves (Record's first defense):

• Avoid plain paper (can shed, acidic, cause scuffs).
• Polylined paper is an improvement.
• HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Archival standard; smooth, non-abrasive, anti-static. (e.g., MoFi, Sleeve City Diskeeper).
• "Rice Paper" Style: Multi-ply (HDPE + paper insert) for softness, anti-static, rigidity.

Outer Sleeves (Protect artwork & jacket):

• Polyethylene (PE): Softer, good archival, can cloud.
• Polypropylene (PP): Superior clarity, rigid. Modern ones resist splitting. (e.g., Sleeve City Ultimate Outer).
• Mylar (PET): Exceptional clarity, archivally sound, can be brittle, expensive.
• AVOID PVC: Off-gasses chemicals, causes "hazing" on vinyl, damages artwork.
• Thickness (2-5 mil): Thicker (3mil+) offers more protection.

Key: Use a "sleeve system." Acid-free, anti-static inners and durable, clear outers are crucial long-term investments.

Debris on stylus causes distortion, loss of detail, mistracking, and damages stylus/records.

• Dry Brushes (Carbon Fiber/Nylon): For routine light cleaning (back-to-front motion). Ineffective for caked-on grime.
• Gel-Based Cleaners (e.g., Onzow Zerodust): Tacky gel pulls off grime. Gentle vertical dip. Some residue concerns (debated).
• Liquid Stylus Cleaners (with brush): Can dissolve stubborn deposits. Risk if fluid is aggressive or over-applied (can damage adhesive/suspension). Use specialized fluids only.
• Electronic/Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaners: High-frequency vibrations for deep clean. Expensive; some concern about long-term stress if poorly designed.
• DIY (Magic Eraser - white, untreated): Micro-abrasive. Inexpensive, can be effective but HIGH RISK of stylus damage if not done carefully.

Key: Clean stylus regularly. Dry brush often, deeper clean as needed. Balance cleaning thoroughness with risk to delicate stylus.

Critical for low-noise amplification of weak cartridge signals and precise RIAA equalization. External units often outperform built-in stages due to:

• Higher-grade components and optimized circuit design.
• Better power supply isolation (minimizing hum/interference).
• Effective shielding and grounding.

Cartridge Matching is Key:

• Moving Magnet (MM): Higher output (2-8mV), needs ~35-45dB gain, 47kOhm load. Capacitive loading is important.
• Moving Coil (MC): Lower output (0.1-0.5mV for LOMC), needs ~55-70+dB gain. Resistive loading (10-1000 Ohms, varies) is critical. Less sensitive to capacitance.

Features to look for: Adjustable gain, resistive loading (for MC), capacitive loading (for MM). An external preamp can be a significant sonic upgrade.

Indispensable for pre-playback surface dust removal and static neutralization. Addresses clicks, pops, and surface noise.

• Mechanism: Ultra-fine conductive carbon fibers sweep dust and dissipate static (if brush is grounded via user).
• Proper Use: Gentle pressure, record spinning, sweep towards outer edge, clean brush regularly.
• Quality Matters: Premium brushes (e.g., AudioQuest) ensure a complete grounding path. Cheaper ones may only be dust brushes.

Limitations: For loose surface dust only, not a substitute for wet cleaning. Part of the listening ritual for many.