WHAT YOU’LL NEED

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AN AMPLIFIER

This strengthens the weak electronic signal from your hi-fi components to a level that’s powerful enough to drive a pair of speakers, as well as modifying the tone via bass and treble controls. For use with a turntable, you’d ideally want one with a dedicated Phono channel ( see below). We like: Onkyo A-9010 (£200); Marantz PM-6006 (£279); Pioneer A-30 (£249)

A PHONO STAGE

The electronic signals mentioned above come in two flavours: line- and phono- level. Turntables produce the weaker phono- level signal, which needs to be boosted to linelevel by a phono stage (or ‘phono preamp’) for your amplifier to process it. On amps with a Phono channel this is built-in, while many modern turntables ( such as the AudioTechnica AT-LP5) have one onboard. Otherwise, you’ll need this extra piece of kit. We like: Rega Phono Mini A2D (£89); Graham Slee Communicator Gram Amp 2 (£180)

SOME SPEAKERS

Speakers convert the electronic signal from your amp to soundwaves by means of vibrating cones – usually a small ‘ tweeter’ for higher frequencies and a larger ‘ woofer’ for the bass, though high- end speakers sometimes feature a three-way configuration. We like: Mission LX-2 (£160); Monitor Audio Bronze 2 (£280); Tannoy Eclipse 3 (£300) Bear in mind that you can often save some cash by buying music equipment secondhand – quality hi-fi gear is built to last, and these days you can pick up some fantastic kit from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s for very little money!