Vinyl Buyer's Guide
New to vinyl, or buying for someone who is? This guide covers everything you need to start playing records — what gear you actually need, how to choose a first turntable, how to care for your collection, and what to expect when you order from Bondi Records.
What you need to play vinyl
A vinyl setup has three parts: a turntable to spin the record, an amplifier to boost the signal, and speakers to play it. Many modern turntables have the amplifier (phono preamp) built in, and powered speakers have their own amps too — so a beginner setup can be as simple as a turntable plus powered speakers, connected with one cable.
The easiest way to start is a Vinyl Starter Kit — we pre-match a turntable and speakers that work together out of the box, pre-wired and ready to play. No guesswork, no compatibility surprises.
Choosing your first turntable
Three things matter most when picking a first deck:
Built-in preamp: if the turntable has one (like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 or LP70XBT), you can plug straight into powered speakers. If not, you'll need an amplifier or phono stage in between.
Automatic vs manual: automatic decks start and return the needle at the press of a button — great for beginners. Manual decks (like the Pro-Ject Debut series or Rega Planar) give you more control and usually better sound per dollar as you move up.
Bluetooth: many entry decks now stream wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers — handy for small spaces, though a wired connection always sounds best.
Browse all turntables and speakers, or ask us — matching people with their first setup is one of our favourite things to do.
Caring for your records
Records reward a little care. Keep them upright (never stacked flat), away from heat and direct sun, and in quality inner sleeves. An anti-static brush before every play keeps dust out of the grooves, and a proper cleaning kit — always cleaning with the grooves, never across them — revives tired-sounding records. Replace your stylus roughly every 500–1,000 hours of play; a worn needle wears your records. We stock replacement styluses and cartridges for all the major decks.
About our records
At Bondi Records we sell brand new, factory sealed vinyl records, sourced from more than 20 suppliers across Australia, the US, the UK and Europe. Every record passes through several hands before it reaches you — manufacturer, distributor, customs, our warehouse — and occasionally a cover picks up a small imperfection like a light crease or corner scuff along the way. These occurrences are rare, and our records are stored with care and handled properly when we pack your order.
How we protect your order in shipping
Vinyl ships in purpose-built record mailers — multiple layers of sturdy cardboard with enough padding to prevent bent corners — and every package is marked FRAGILE. In the rare event an item arrives damaged, we'll make it right. See our Shipping Policy for details.
Dispatch and delivery
In-stock orders are dispatched within 1 business day. Standard shipping is $12.99 and express $18.99 anywhere in Australia — and shipping is free on vinyl orders over $199. Sydney metro deliveries typically arrive in 1–2 days; regional areas can take up to 10. Turntables and other heavy audio gear ship for $39.99 and often come direct from supplier warehouses within 24 hours. We also ship to 40+ countries worldwide, calculated by weight at checkout. Around Record Store Day and in the lead-up to Christmas, allow a little extra time — everyone's buying records.
Pre-orders
Pre-orders are paid in full when you order and shipped the moment stock lands — first in, first out, with stock arriving in waves. Release dates can shift with label allocations and staggered shipments; if anything changes, we'll keep you posted. One thing to know: an order containing a pre-order ships together once the pre-order is released, so if you want in-stock records sooner, place them as a separate order. Full details in our Pre-order Policy.
Sold out? Not the end
If a record you want is out of stock, hit the notify button on the product page and you'll get an email the moment it's back. And if we don't stock it at all, request it — hunting down records is what we do.
Earn as you collect
Every order earns rewards points — 1 point per dollar, with $5 off for every 500 points. Sign up for an account and the points take care of themselves.
Visit the store
We're at 258 Oxford St, Bondi Junction, open 7 days. Free click-and-collect is usually ready within 24 hours, and album listening parties and in-store events are announced on our socials first — follow @bondirecords to hear about them early.