Turntables that come in colors

A turntable is one of the few pieces of audio equipment that can be a focal point and conversation piece in your living space.

With many options, there are several models of turntables that come in bright colors, conveying a strong statement about your love for analog listening.

Here are a few that we like:

Pro-Ject Debut 3

A great entry-level turntable (shown left) priced at $379, this Pro-Ject Debut 3 comes in 8 great colors.

Available from Music Direct in green, blue, red, yellow, silver, flat black, piano black, white

Music Hall MMF 2.2LE

A good option for those looking to spend a bit more, the $500 MMF 2.2LE comes in a bright, Ferrari red color.

Available here from Amazon

Rega P3

Pricey at $1295 dollars but a phenomenal turntable. Shown right, it is available in a host of bright, interesting colors.

Available here from Music Direct

Music Hall MMF 5.1SE

At a similar price point to the Rega P3, the $1200 Music Hall MMF 5.1SE is colored with a red walnut veneer.

Available here from Music Direct

Clairtone = beautiful

Handmade turntable covers

Looking for a replacement dust cover for you Technics 1200? Check out the handmade turntable covers from MeandMyMachine on Etsy.

Made of corduroy, these covers are a unique replacement for the standard plastic dust cover. They come in a variety of colors and at $24, they won't break the bank (standard plastic dust covers + mounting brackets will run you about $60 and 20 minutes of installation time).

Don't have a 1200? Drop them a line and they can make a custom cover to fit your turntable.

The gray model shown is available here.

Grado headphones

When listening to records at home, nothing beats a great set of headphones for total immersion. Personally, I'm a big fan of the offerings from Brooklyn-based and family owned Grado Labs.

Grado has been making amazing products for over 50 years and has a rich history and dedication to designing high-end audio products. For my birthday, my girlfriend got me a pair of their SR 325i model headphone, the highest end in their Prestige Series. Having used the SR80 model, I was absolutely ecstatic when I unwrapped the box.

The design of the 325i is classic and solid. An gold-toned aluminum body (in honor of their 50 year anniversary) keeps the vibrations down. I modified the earpads to allow more air between my ear and the drivers and the sound is incredible. Priced at $295, they are not cheap but these are the type of headphones you keep at home and will have for years.

Entry level models in the Prestige Series start below $100 and will provide an excellent introduction to high-end headphones. They make a great gift for any music-lover.

Here's an list of their models and prices - all available on Amazon.com.

The Prestige Series

SR60- $69 | SR80 - $95 | SR 125 - $150 | SR 225 - $200 | SR325i- $295

The Reference Series

RS 2- $495 | RS 1- $695

Record Store Day 2009

Mark your calendars for this Record Store Day on Saturday, April 18, 2009. Record Store Day will bring together retailers, record labels, distributors, artists and music fans to celebrate independent record stores and the culture they support.

"There’s nothing as glamorous to me as a record store. When I recently played Amoeba in LA, I realised what fantastic memories such a collection of music brings back when you see it all in one place. This is why I’m more than happy to support Record Store Day and I hope that these kinds of stores will be there for us all for many years to come. Cheers!"

- Paul McCartney

It is organized by The National Association of Recording Merchandisers and will likely include special events in your neighborhood record stores.

Want to know who's participating? Check out the list of participating stores and stay tuned for more details in the new year.

Run a record store and not on the list? Sign up here.