Once considered to be old fashioned, clumsy and inferior to other sources of music, vinyl record players, or turntables, are now experiencing a revival, appealing to those who take their sounds seriously.
Offering a music experience that is less polished but more authentic, album collectors can find some rare vintage records for their turntables, as well as enjoying all the new releases, which are now usually released on vinyl as standard.
Turntable safety
Turntables are generally very safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take a few sensible precautions before and during use.
Safety first
- Make sure you buy your turntable from a reputable retailer, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
- It’s important to register your new turntable with the manufacturer so that you can be contacted if a safety notice or recall is issued. It also makes it easier for you to return a faulty product or order a repair. To find out how to register any of your appliances, regardless of age, visit our Product Registration page.
- Use our free online Product Recall checker to see if your turntable or any other electrical items have been recalled.
- Check that your appliance has a UK plug; if it doesn’t, don’t try to use a UK travel adaptor. Get in touch with the retailer and ask them to fit a UK plug.
- Do regular checks of the plug and socket for burn marks, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) or if it feels too hot to touch. If you have fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping then contact a registered electrician to investigate.
- Any socket you plan to use to plug in a turntable should have RCD (residual current device) Protection. An RCD is a life-saving device that protects against dangerous electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. If you don’t have RCD protection in your fuse box for your sockets, consider using an RCD plug to protect you and your property from serious appliance faults.
Using your turntable safely
- Keep your turntable away from sources of moisture and heat.
- Do not attempt to repair or adapt your vinyl record player as there is a risk of electrical shock if you remove the cover or back. If you do need to service your machine, take it to a reputable technician.
- If your turntable does get wet, or the plug or wires become damaged, unplug immediately and discontinue use.
- Do not block the ventilation areas.
- Place on a flat, stable surface.
- Unplug from the wall before cleaning.
- Unplug when not in use.