Following two Covid-19-related delays, Record Store Day 2020 has been split over three dates – and the third and final 'drop' has landed today (Saturday October 24), bringing tons of exclusive vinyls to turntable enthusiasts around the world.
The first drop landed on August 29, and followed by the second on September 26, and this final drop has brought us some of the best records yet.
Conceived in 2007, Record Store Day is a yearly celebration of independent record stores. Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and released in what are known as ‘Record Store Day Drops’.
Usually, the festivities include in-store performances, meet-and-greets, and parties, but the coronavirus pandemic has stifled those plans somewhat; instead, this year’s celebration is split over three days, with stores adhering to the social distancing guidelines in their region.
August 29 saw in a number of fantastic releases from artists including The Big Moon, Charlie XCX, Christine and the Queens, Tyler the Creator, and more. There were plenty of older releases pressed exclusively to vinyl for Record Store Day 2020, with albums from the likes of David Bowie, The Cure, and Bob Marley and the Wailers.
September 26 came with releases from Alice Cooper, Daft Punk, Lewis Capaldi, Neneh Cherry, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Tove Lo, Fleetwood Mac, The Ramones, and more.
Our friends at TechRadar sister site What Hi-Fi? have curated the top releases they're hoping to nab during the final drop, including vinyls from Grateful Dead, Eminem, St Vincent, Beck, The Lemonheads, Suede, and Frank Zappa – meanwhile you can also check out the full list of releases at the Record Store Day website.
Usually, Record Store Day marks a huge social event for independent record stores, but this year all the shopping fun is likely to largely take place online – however, stores are only allowed to start selling remaining stock online from 6pm, so diehard vinyl fans may want to visit their local record store in person. Bear in mind that if you do decide to shop in person, you may have to queue for longer than usual.
Whether you’re buying in person or shopping online, it’s worth dusting off your old record player in preparation – or treat yourself to one of the best turntables of 2020, which come with fancy features like wireless connectivity and USB ports for recording your vinyl to your computer.
With all these new vinyl releases hitting the shelves, it’s a great time to invest in some new audio kit – and to make your life easier, we’ve curated all the best Record Store Day deals we’ve found.
That includes deals on turntables, stereo speakers, wireless speakers, amplifiers, and headphones, so you can find the very best price on the latest and great audio gadgets that will make your new vinyls really sing.
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The best turntable deals
The best turntables in 2020 are drastically improved compared to the clunky old systems you might find gathering dust in your attic.
The top record players today come in a wide range of styles and sizes – whether you like the classic look of record players from the past or you’re only interested in the most modern aesthetic.
Many of these devices also come with modern features, such as Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports. With a USB output you can record all of the LPs you already own directly to your computer. This brings an added bonus of allowing you to listen to your vinyls wherever you are.
Read more: The best turntables of 2020
The best headphones deals
The best headphones of 2020 all deliver on comfort, great-looking design, top audio fidelity, and a range of fantastic features, including built-in voice assistants and wireless connectivity.
A great pair of headphones is essential for anyone who loves listening to their records in peace, with many models offering a choice of connections, including standard 3.5mm jacks, balanced connections, and Bluetooth support.
For really analytical listening, we'd recommend a pair of over-ear headphones, which offer great noise isolation, comfy fits, and best-in-class audio quality – you can check out all the best deals below:
Read more: The best over-ear headphones of 2020
The best stereo speaker deals
The best stereo speakers are an essential part of any audiophile's home setup, even if standalone wireless speakers like the Apple HomePod and the Sonos One are all the rage right now.
Whether you count yourself as an audiophile or a casual listener, we all want our sound to be clear, full, and perhaps most importantly, true to the original source. Although the principles of stereo sound may be decades old now, audiophiles far and wide still believe that two Hi-Fi speakers really are a whole lot better than one – and they're the perfect addition to your turntable setup.
Read more: The best stereo speakers of 2020
The best wireless speaker deals
The best wireless speakers you can buy in 2020 come in a range of shapes and sizes, from compact voice assistant-enabled desk buddies through to big multi-room models that’ll fill your home with sound.
As well as offering pristine audio playback, the best wireless speakers pack in a whole host of features, including smart assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. Many of the best wireless speakers also boast built-in support for streaming services, and slick designs that will look the part in any home.
If you've got a state-of-the-art Bluetooth turntable, one of these nifty wireless speakers will be a great choice to boost your home audio setup in time for Record Store Day 2020.
Read more: The best wireless speakers of 2020
