Record Roundup 26: Record Store Day 2024

Welcome to Volume 26 of Record Roundup, my regular feature on all things turntables and vinyl. For the primary edition of 2024, I’m talking one other record-breaking yr in record sales, Record Store Day 2024, product reviews, recent gear from Canada’s Fluance, and VMP releases.

Vinyl sales are still going strong

The RIAA has released its annual revenue report for 2023 and, to the surprise of nobody who’s a vinyl fan, record sales proceed to boom. According to RIAA figures (Full report here), record sales exceeded CD sales for the second consecutive yr, while revenue from record sales rose 10% to $1.4 billion in 2023 – its seventeenth consecutive yr of growth.

Record Shop Day 2024

April twentieth is the day. Pick up fans, start checking Release list because Record Store Day 2024 – with its collection of exclusive limited edition vinyl releases – is just two weeks away. Among notable releases, Rhino features Talking Heads’ Live at WCOZ 77The doors’ Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, September 20, 1968and for country fans, Dwight Yoakams The beginnings and more: The albums of the 80s.

Crosley C8 review

In case you missed it, I reviewed the reasonably priced Crosley C8 turntable in January. This is an entry-level belt-drive turntable that has loads to supply for its $279 price tag, including a walnut-finish MDF base, an aluminum platter and tonearm, and a pre-assembled Audio Technica AT-3600 cartridge.

New releases from Fluance

Technically this is not “new” per se, but keep a watch out for an upcoming review of the Fluance RT81+ turntable that was announced late last yr. This update to the RT81 features an Audio Technica VM95E cartridge and an improved, dampened aluminum platter. I even have a review unit in my basement, just waiting for some renovation work to be done on my house – the worst environment to check a brand new turntable – so I can pack it up before unpacking it.

Fluance has also released a brand new accessory, the IB40 Turntable Isolation Base. I even have certainly one of these in my office and can be testing it with the RT81+ turntable.

Klipsch The Three Plus Premium Bluetooth Speaker

Not every record fan has the space or budget for a component sound system with a PHONO input and a pair of speakers. I’ve just tested a compact audio system that might be ideal for each situations.

The Three Plus is a premium Bluetooth speaker from the well-known American audio brand Klipsch. The Three Plus encompasses a handsome mid-century modern design with real wood veneer, wrap-around fabric, and a chunky metal volume knob. With 120W of bi-amp power driving a pair of full-range drivers and a formidable 5.25-inch high-excursion woofer, it’s an actual looker. Look around and you may find two RCA inputs, a ground post and a switchable PHONO preamp.

Charmed? You can read my full review of the Klipsch Three Plus here.

Vinyl Me Please Featured Record

Record Store Day is as fun as dumpster diving, and it is not the one technique to snag an exclusive release. Subscription service Vinyl Me Please is an incredible source for unusual exclusives, including box sets and unique coloured vinyl. Just take a look at Black Sabbath’s January Rock Record of the Month release Master of Reality. I like the Purple Orchid Splatter effect on this album and the 1971 album has probably never sounded higher than VMP’s release on 180g AAA lacquered vinyl cut from the master tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. Attention collectors: These eight LPs at the moment are available for pre-order at VMP John Coltrane box setalong with his Dear Supreme Album plus alternate takes and live versions.

Did you miss the most recent edition of Record Roundup? Volume 25 contained a number of turntables priced at $250 and under.

Disclosure: Please note that Vinyl Me provided a record membership for review purposes but had no influence on this review.