Earlier this week I posted about a huge vinyl sale over at J&R, and realized that many readers were in the dark about what kind of record player would work best for them. Even though turntables have been around forever, they've recently seen a return among many different circles of music fanatics, ranging from hardcore punk rockers to ritzy audiophiles with lots of money to spend. There's little better than throwing a record on the turntable and enjoying music the way it was meant to be experienced, so consider giving one of these players (or the ones featured next week) a try to experience pure relaxation.

Since I'll be breaking this up into two bite-sized features, I'll include a little bit of info along with each installment to bring newcomers (and returners) up to speed with some of the basic features and components of a record player that can factor into price. First, the quality and types of components used in the build of the turntable play a huge part in the sound (and price) of a turntable. The platter, the large, round area where records are placed, can be made of various substances ranging from plastic and metal, to fancy glass and even wood. Even though it's just a simple circle that spins records, platters can affect the sound of a system dramatically, especially when paired with a proper tonearm and stylus (the metal arm and "needle" that is placed on a record). While these "lower end" solutions may not be made of glass and gold, they'll undoubtedly play your records and even sound just fine doing it. Take a peek for yourself!

For the person who wants a dirt cheap turntable:  The Jensen 3 Speed Turntable

While I usually refuse to acknowledge "bundle" turntables with AM/FM radios, CD players, espresso machines, and whatever else an unheard company wants to tack onto a mediocre record player, this Jensen turntable is a downright steal. It allows you to play your records and listen to the radio on its two tiny speakers, or hook up a pair of your own for a much better sound. Considering it's only $39 shipped from Buy.com, it's hard to pass up on this turntable if you don't see yourself as more than a casual listener. However, if you have a home theater setup and want to have something that may work a little better with it, you'll probably want to pick up something more like the next player (or the ones next week).

For the full-featured beginner: The Ion iTTUSB05 USB Turntable

If you're new to the world of turntables and record players, you probably won't want to drop $900 on a pair of Technics SL-1200s and a cross fader to be a DJ overnight. For most of us, a simple turntable that rotates a record and plays music is all we really need. This Ion USB turntable is a great starter turntable for two reasons: first, it's only $100 and plays records beautifully. Secondly, it hooks up to your computer via USB, so if you ever want to make MP3s of your rare 45s, it's as easy as plugging it into your computer and pressing record with the bundled software. Since it will always be useful (as few high-end turntables include a USB out), it makes a great starter turntable for anyone.

If neither of these turntables seem to tickle your fancy, feel free to check out our electronics category to do some research yourself. I'll be back next week for the second part of our turntable assault, featuring turntables fit for a DJ and a king. Have a great weekend!