"The four building blocks of the universe are fire, water, gravel and vinyl" – so says American humorist Dave Barry, and we have to agree. What Hi-Fi? is celebrating our 50th birthday this year, and vinyl and turntables have been the building blocks of our publication ever since we started in 1976.
It's also time for Record Store Day 2026, which lands on Saturday 18th April. To coincide we're running our now-annual Vinyl Week to celebrate this enduring analogue format, along with turntables and related paraphernalia.
Vinyl Week 2026 will be running from today, Monday 13th to Sunday 19th April, and we'll be bringing you reviews of exciting new turntables (including Audio-Technica's classy-looking premium deck), exclusive interviews exploring vinyl’s popularity and buying habits, and insight into how record shops are evolving beyond simply selling vinyl to become thriving community hubs.
Our editorial team dives deep into the past half-century to reminisce about forgotten turntables, explore the new trend of vinyl listening bars, test out some record cleaners, and even revisit Dire Straits' seminal album Brothers in Arms – in both vinyl and CD.
We also get our hands on the Rega Planet – the brand's first-ever turntable – and, proving there are still surprises in this world, test a modern turntable that has a CD player built inside. One to appease fans of both physical formats...
You can stay up to date with all the reviews, features and advice by visiting our dedicated Vinyl Week channel on the website, signing up for our newsletter, or simply bookmarking this page so you don't miss a thing. Also, check out our social media channels for exclusive videos from our test rooms.
Whether you're queueing up for one of those special RSD 2026 releases or simply enjoying your vinyl collection at home, do get involved and drop us a comment to share your favourite vinyl album or record shop, what turntable you're listening on, or which new releases we should all be checking out.
Reviews
- Audio-Technica AT-LPA2 review: classy-looking turntable with a wonderfully clear, insightful sound
- Sony PS-LX3BT review: an affordable and excellent entry point into vinyl
Features
- Forgotten gems: 8 unsung turntables that deserve to be celebrated
- A hi-fi classic: meet Rega's first-ever record player, the Planet
- "It's not just a transaction, it's a conversation" – how vinyl record shops are thriving in the digital age
- I’ve started collecting vinyl records of this unusual music genre – and it’s been a lot more rewarding
- We pick 8 of the best Record Store Day 2026 releases – The Cure, Nas, Miles Davis, Pavement and more
- The 10 most valuable records sold on Discogs last month (March 2026)
- Here’s why this “unerringly ordinary and, to be brutal, boring” vinyl record is worth £19,000
- This underrated Rage Against The Machine album holds a special place in my vinyl collection
Advice
MORE:
How to set up a turntable correctly and get the best sound
