41.72 million vinyl albums were sold in 2021, which was up from 27.5 million the year before and more than double 2016’s numbers. But why? CDs provide better audio quality, yet haven’t experienced the same comeback. For starters, a record sleeve offers a much larger canvas to display an album’s artwork — not to mention the recent preponderance of colored discs — but also many audiophiles enjoy the warmer crackling quality of vinyl.
Sure, collectors are basking in new releases by the likes of Adele or the Chili Peppers. But new vinyl shouldn’t give them much trouble when enjoying it on a turntable. The obstructions come with older records which are much more likely to be riddled with dust and dirt. Although that same grime can provide the warm listening experience that collectors desire, too much can render any record unlistenable.
Pro-Ject’s Vinyl Noise Reduction System (VNRS) Box S3 can filter out undesirable cracks and pops so you can now bring your favorite vinyl records out of retirement. The device works as an interface between the output of your turntable and the input of your amplifier. Once connected, it digitizes your music and figures out which frequencies are not inherently supposed to be there and then turns them down or eliminates them altogether, up to 8dB.
For those of you with a significant number of older records — music that just sounds better on vinyl or is unavailable on streaming services entirely — this Vinyl NRS Box S3 from Pro-Ject is absolutely necessary. It runs for $399 on the company’s website.
