What to buy a vinyl lover? 10 gift ideas for record collectors

Vinyl isn't just a music format, it's a small ritual. The record is carefully taken out of its sleeve, cleaned of dust, placed on the platter and only then does the first note play. Anyone who collects records deals not only with the music but also with how to protect them from dust and scratches, where to store them and how to display them so they look good on the shelf. That's exactly why choosing a gift for a vinyl lover is such a pleasure. Little things like a brush, new sleeves or a cleaning kit will please any collector, and if you want to give something bigger, go for a record washer, a portable turntable or the record missing from their collection. We've ranked the tips in a countdown from ten, so the biggest gift is waiting for you at the end.

Dust on a record crackles, hisses and over time can damage the grooves and the stylus, because the stylus pushes it deeper into the groove during playback, where it's hard to remove. That's why collectors give a record a quick brush before every listen, ideally while it's spinning on the platter, when it's enough to rest the brush gently on it and let the record make a few turns.

The Legend Vinyl Velvet Dust Brush is a velvet brush with excellent reviews that gently picks up dust without scratching the surface, and thanks to its small size it fits right next to the turntable. The IHRING brush with a wooden handle also looks great, suits a retro turntable and feels more like a small living-room accessory than a cleaning tool.

If you want a cheap extra, add a Muziker Vinyl Record Mitten for easily wiping off the fingerprints that every careless touch leaves on the glossy surface. You'll find more types, including carbon fibre anti-static brushes, among our record brushes.

Original paper sleeves tear over time, shed tiny fibres and rub against the record every time it's taken out, leaving fine scratches on the surface that later show up as noise. That's why quality protective sleeves are among the most useful gifts for a collector, and with a bigger collection they run out faster than you'd expect.

Legend Vinyl Premium Outer Sleeves are clear outer sleeves made of thicker film that hold the whole album including its original cover, protecting it from dust, worn edges and fading in the sun while letting the original artwork shine. Inside, Muziker HDPE inner sleeves replace the paper bags and keep the record from getting scratched when it's taken out or slid back in.

A pack of 50 covers a good part of a collection, so it's a gift the collector will definitely use and can never have enough of. You'll find more sizes, including sleeves for 7-inch singles, among our record sleeves.

Even records that get brushed regularly need a deeper clean now and then, because a brush only removes loose dust, not grease, fingerprints or dirt settled in the grooves. This applies especially to records bought second-hand at a flea market or record fair, which may have spent years in a cellar or in poorly stored boxes.

The Legend Vinyl Cleaning Solution and Microfibre Cloth includes a cleaning fluid and a microfibre cloth that quickly remove grease and fingerprints, and the record often sounds noticeably cleaner afterwards. More complete gear for looking after a whole collection and the turntable stylus comes with the Legend Vinyl Complete Care Cleaning Kit or the popular Vinyl Tonic kit.

When cleaning, always wipe the record along the grooves in a circular motion, never across them, and make sure it's completely dry before putting it back in its sleeve. You'll find more kits among our record cleaning kits.

Record covers are little works of art designed by well-known photographers and artists, and many collectors love to display them on the wall like paintings instead of keeping them hidden on a shelf. A record frame is also practical, because a favourite album is always at hand and the cover doesn't bend or gather dust while it hangs.

The Renote record cover frame is an affordable way to turn a favourite album into decor, and several frames side by side create a lovely wall gallery that can be changed to suit the mood. The Show & Listen Flip Frame is handy because it opens at the front, so the collector can take the record out, play it without taking the frame apart and then put it back just as easily.

The frames are made for standard 12-inch covers, so most LP records fit. You'll find more models, including wall shelves, among our wall-mounted record holders.

A record collection grows faster than you'd expect, and sooner or later records start piling up on the floor next to the turntable, on the table or in boxes where they're hard to find. Records should always be stored upright, because when they lie flat on top of each other, the weight of the others can warp them over time.

The Renote Storage Triangle stand is one of our best-selling accessories, keeping the records currently in rotation together next to the turntable and showing them off nicely, so favourite albums are always at hand. For a bigger collection, the Legend Vinyl LP Shelf Stand is a good fit, and anyone who loves a retro look will enjoy the Renote crate in the style of an old shipping crate, where records can be flipped through just like in a record shop and which can stand on the floor or on a cabinet.

Before buying, it's worth estimating how many records they have so the stand or crate doesn't fill up straight away. You'll find more models among our tabletop record stands and record crates.

A new record is always the best gift for a collector, because it expands their collection and brings several evenings of discovery, as long as you pick an album they don't have yet. The best-selling classics, which are in many collections yet remain among the most popular gifts, include Michael Jackson: Thriller, Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon and the jazz legend Miles Davis: Kind of Blue, which is also a great choice for those just getting into jazz.

Fans of more modern rock will love Arctic Monkeys: AM. If you want to make the gift extra special, go for a limited edition on coloured vinyl or a 180-gram pressing, which collectors value for better quality and durability.

Before buying, it's worth taking a discreet look at their shelf or asking someone in the family, so you don't give an album they already own. You'll find the whole range among our LP records.

Anyone who collects records usually has favourite bands they love to show off, and merch is a way to take that love beyond the living room, to a gig, to work or out for a walk. A T-shirt with a legendary album cover, such as Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, is a gift that suits both the collection and the wardrobe, and the collector will appreciate it even more if they own the same album on vinyl.

For winter evenings by the turntable, a warm hoodie is a great choice, such as Linkin Park Meteora or Metallica Master of Puppets, which makes listening to a favourite record even cosier. Official band merch is also better quality than cheap imitations, and the print lasts through frequent washing.

Before buying, just check the clothing size, for example by a T-shirt they like to wear. You'll find more among our music T-shirts and music hoodies.

A collector who loves digging through flea markets and record fairs often brings home records full of dust and dirt settled deep in the grooves, which neither a brush nor a cloth can reach and which crackle during playback and wear out the stylus faster. A record washer cleans the grooves thoroughly, so even an old second-hand record often plays almost like new.

The manual Muziker Vinyl Record Manual Washer cleans both sides of a record at once, you just fill it with water and cleaning fluid, insert the record and turn it a few times. More convenient and thorough is the Analogis Wash´n´Play 2, which will be appreciated by anyone who cleans records regularly and in larger numbers.

After washing, the record must be left to dry thoroughly in an upright position before going into a clean sleeve, so the dirt doesn't come back. You'll find more models among our record cleaning machines.

A portable turntable is ideal for those just getting into records who don't want to deal with an amplifier and speakers straight away, but also for collectors who want to play vinyl in the kitchen, at a cabin or at friends' places. The Crosley Voyager is a suitcase turntable with built-in speakers and Bluetooth, one of our best sellers, available in many colours, so it can be chosen to match their style.

Thanks to Bluetooth it can also play music from a phone, and it plays records at 33, 45 and 78 rpm. A cheaper retro-style alternative is the Renote RetroCase, which stands out with its vintage suitcase look. Just plug it in and it plays.

With portable turntables, bear in mind that built-in speakers won't sound like a separate system, but they're perfectly fine for relaxed listening and getting to know vinyl. You'll find more models among our portable turntables.

Every vinyl lover eventually longs for a better turntable that gets more detail and bass out of their records and turns listening into a real experience. With this gift, however, be careful, because the turntable has to match the rest of the setup, and with the wrong model they might not even be able to connect it.

Some need a turntable with a built-in preamp that plugs straight into active speakers, while others have an amplifier with a phono input and need a turntable without a preamp or with the option to switch it off. It also matters whether they want an automatic turntable that starts and lifts the tonearm by itself or a manual one, which more experienced collectors appreciate, and which cartridge they'd like.

So only buy a turntable if you're confident enough to surprise them and you know what setup they have. You'll find inspiration among our home turntables and turntable sets.

For a collector who has everything, buy something that takes care of their collection. A good choice is the Muziker Vinyl Record Manual Washer, the Show & Listen Flip Frame or the Legend Vinyl Complete Care kit. If you're not sure, a gift voucher is a safe choice.

For under £20 you can buy a collector practical accessories: the Legend Vinyl Velvet Dust Brush, Legend Vinyl protective sleeves, the Renote Storage Triangle stand or the Miles Davis: Kind of Blue record.

For under £45 you can choose from records, stands and cleaning kits. A good choice is Michael Jackson: Thriller, Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon, the Legend Vinyl Complete Care kit or a Renote crate.

The safest bet is to find out which albums they already have and choose something by their favourite artist. If you don't know, go for timeless classics such as Thriller, The Dark Side of the Moon or Kind of Blue. You'll find more among our LP records.

Store records upright in protective sleeves, such as Legend Vinyl Premium Outer Sleeves, and brush them before listening with the Legend Vinyl Velvet Dust Brush. For a deeper clean, use a cleaning fluid with a cloth, and wash second-hand records in a manual record washer.