Vinyl shelving under $100

Although I've had some less than great experiences with Ikea furniture, this comes as a recommendation from a Twitter follower as a great, low-cost shelving setup for your vinyl records.

The Expedit model shelf features 8 square compartments and comes in 3 colors - birch (shown), black-brown, and white. You can arrange it vertically as shown or, how I would do it, horizontally. The depth is just deep enough to put a Technics 1200 on top. Here are the dimensions:

Width: 31 1/8 "
Depth: 15 3/8 "
Height: 58 5/8 "

Twitter follower @kumar303 has 3 of them and says each holds approximately 525 LPs.

Best of all - it's only $89!

Overall, it looks like a great solution. You can order it online or check to see if your local Ikea carries it here.

Thank you @kumar303 for pointing this one out!

PS - You can follow Analog Apartment on Twitter here.

How it's Made - Vinyl Records

10 minute video that explains what goes into making vinyl records. Fascinating stuff!

SixtyWatt covers cover art like no other

A friend of mine who I grew up with (and the primary reason why I'm so into music / vinyl) keeps a fantastic blog where he hunts down rare, import, and beautiful album artwork / packaging. Here's an overview from his site:

The overall guiding purpose of this blog is simple and unique: SixtyWatt is completely devoted to finding that special edition, that tour-only CD, that autographed pre-order that addicts like myself salivate over. This is the place for those who still buy music, who own a turntable, and who routinely pay overseas conversion rates.

Stop by SixtyWatt to learn more. He's also got a great list searchable online record stores.  Happy hunting!

Redpoint Audio

Another turntable in the "if money were no object" category, the Redpoint Testa Rossa Model B is built like a beautiful tank.

Redpoint's philosophy on turntable design is simple - no fancy suspension systems - just solid, heavy materials that are constructed in a manner to yield zero noise. The Model B comes in at a husky 150 lbs.

Here's what they say on their site:

The more you hear from a turntable, the less music you hear from a record. Our years of research and experimentation have proven the ironic truth that a massive, suspensionless design rendered in aluminum, brass, stainless steel and Teflon is the best path to hearing more music and less of the equipment required to play it. More mass, wielded correctly, means less resonance and more stability. If the music is the message, then we endeavor to be its invisible messenger.

They come in a variety of options for finish and tonearm pods (which are absolute works of engineering art).

Special thanks to Ben at Hodinkee for pointing this out.

Update on Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 1:07PM by Analog Apartment

Is it just me or does it look like Mickey Mouse?

A classy milk crate

If you're using the traditional milk crate / Yaffa block approach to storing your vinyl and are looking for something with a bit more style in the convenient, box-like design, check out the Sefour VC030. Here's what they say about them over at Turntable Lab:

The Sefour box can store up to 60 vinyl LPs and features a simple, stackable design in a stylish black laminate finish that would not look out of place in the studio or lounge. Unique to the Sefour box is the integrated chrome handle that can help when moving the box and can also be used to separate the records you are about to use in your set.

What's great about these is that they were designed with the collector in mind. If you're just starting out with vinyl, these are a great way to give your new collection a proper home.

Available here from Turntable Lab for $69.