Are you still lamenting the untimely demise of the world-renowned Needle Doctor? Want to know some great Needle Doctor alternatives that are bound to sate that itch at the wellspring of your being?
Then step forth; for today, we will be exploring 5 Needle Doctor alternatives that have kindly stepped up in the wake of its demise.
1. Audio Advisor
Audio Advisor is a well-equipped cornerstone of the audio equipment industry, one of the more established and esteemed companies to fill the void that the Needle Doctor left behind.
This company does not just bring music direct to a select few – this service has over one million customers worldwide subscribed. In fact, they are one of the biggest manufacturers of high-end audio equipment in the whole world.
Founded in 1981 by Wayne Schuurman, Audio Advisor started selling audio equipment and LP gear around when the Needle Doctor opened his doors. Of course, Audio Advisor has not garnered quite the same cult following and the cult of worship that the Needle Doctor has over the years, but this seems all set to change since the latter has finally closed its doors for good.
This company does everything except actually selling you the vinyl records to be spun – that, of course, is down to you noble knight. Audio Advisor has seen plenty of publicity of late, so perhaps now is the time to start showing them some love and respect.
2. Amazon
Of course, you can always flow with the masses and buy where everyone else buys.
Remarkably enough, Amazon has been going since 1994, successfully manufacturing and retailing goods. From Audio-Technica to Territorial Gobbing – you name it, they have more than likely got it.
This is an online store with a humungous reputation and a fair amount of blood on its hands. If you have the finances, then this can be a great place to get an extensive collection of records and even to find that elusive disc you are after, not to mention finding your dream stereo.
However, you must duly consider just how poorly the workers are treated, especially in comparison to the life of luxury the CEO Jeff Bezos himself leads. The statistics are almost impossible to even process, and Jeff Bezos’s fortune is enough to cure world hunger and starvation several times.
I guess it would be wise to think about such things before you go ahead and enrich the lining of his pockets anymore. That being said, his influence is almost everywhere, so perhaps you would not be doing too badly by sourcing your LP tunes through Amazon.
3. Music Direct
Music Direct is believed to be one of the best alternatives to the Needle Doctor that has arisen in its wake. For a sheer range of products and brands, Music Direct is difficult to compete with – they have got everything from turntable needles, record players, modern amplifiers, phono cartridges, etc. Vinyl enthusiasts will struggle not to spend their hard-earned cash on a record player they did not even need in the first place.
Music Direct stocks some of the biggest and best-known brands in the audiophile business – e.g. Audio-Technica, Warner Bros, Sony, etc. The company does not, however, just limit itself to the exchange of equipment. This is a company that cares about the products it is selling and looks to ensure that they last a long time.
Hence, you can purchase plenty of gear to keep your records and equipment clean so that your financial investment goes further than the end of your nose. To Needle Doctor, this would have been a serious competitor, giving vinyl lovers everywhere a reason to don their turntable belts and keep on living.
Audiophile music heard through audiophile hardware never felt so loved and catered to.
4. LP Tunes
LP Tunes is another rather well-established company that seeks to bring high-quality music and audio equipment to the masses for reasonable prices, all done transparently. And it shows! LP Tunes boasts having over a million regular users, attracting plenty of novices and professionals alike.
Whereas other websites like Amazon and Music Direct spread their influence out towards all sectors of the audiophile world, LP Tunes is more specialized toward the hardware. They do it so well, though, that you can forgive them for neglecting to sell records also.
This specialism means that you will be hard-pressed not to find a piece of hardware that you do not like. This includes cartridges, needles, styli, belts, turntables, headphones, and speakers. LP Tunes also ensures that it only uses the creme de la creme of manufacturers and brands, like Audio-Technica, Ortofon, and Shure.
In specializing in these kinds of parts, you can very easily find a replacement for a part in your own turntable that does not work. This is especially the case for a turntable that is belt-driven. Just type in your turntable as well as the word ‘belt’ and you will likely come up with an apt response.
5. Elusive Disc
Finally, we end things on another service. More aligned with the original ethos of the Needle Doctor, Elusive disc seeks to bring more specialized, rare, and collectible audio items to a mass audience.
Again, this brand has been going for almost as long as Needle Doctor before its demise. Originally starting out as a seller of records, they quickly moved into the audio equipment sector, specializing in the rare and obscure.
What sets Elusive Disc apart from the rest is the fact that they are known to ship everywhere, applying as much care as is needed in the shipping process. They really know how to ship a vinyl record!
Final Tones
So, there you have it! Hopefully, you are now feeling ready and able to shake off the grieving process and get back into the world. There are plenty more fish in the sea and this is never more true than in the ever-burgeoning world of audiophilia.
