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Finding gifts for record lovers can prove difficult: the hobby is uniquely personal, often expensive, and comes with the fear of what your gift recipient does and doesn’t already own. As the holidays rapidly approach, we’ve compiled a list of recommended budget turntables, phono preamps, record accessories, LPs, and books. These products are independently selected, and we’ve personally experienced every listed item (or a very similar previous iteration) listed.

A Vinyl Me, Please subscription ($119-399)

Even someone with seemingly every pressing of every good record might enjoy a Vinyl Me, Please gift subscription; the company’s four “tracks” (Essentials, Classics, Hip-Hop, and Country) reissue one album a month, and members can swap current titles for older releases. If those options don’t appeal, the recipient can trade for VMP store credit and buy limited variants of new releases and reissues. Available subscription options are three months for $119, six months for $219, or a full year for $399 (international subscription prices differ).—Malachi Lui

Turntable: U-Turn Orbit ($199-705)

Michael Fremer said of the U-Turn Orbit belt-drive turntable, “I could have reviewed the $199 U-Turn Orbit Basic turntable taking into account its low price and letting it off easy for the few small issues I had with it. But after listening for a day I thought the ‘table should be reviewed on a level playing field with any product I get my hands on. It’s that accomplished. [Other budget turntables have their] place too but for now the $199 U-Turn Orbit Basic occupies a unique place in the turntable universe in terms of both its out of the box performance and its upgrade possibilities.” Options range from the $199 Orbit Basic to the fully-loaded $705 Orbit Custom, all customizable to best fit your recipient’s setup (as well as your own budget).—ML

Turntable: Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB (about $350, built-in phono preamp)

Reviewing the original Audio-Technica AT-LP120 direct-drive turntable, Fremer wrote, “The Audio Technica AT-LP120USB is a well-made, feature packed, ‘ready to play’ inexpensive turntable that is a significant step up from the plastic crap competition. [It doesn’t] compete sonically with a more costly belt drive design such as the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, or even with the less expensive U-Turn Orbit in my opinion, though those (especially the U-Turn) can’t begin to compete with the Audio Technica’s build quality, feature set and ease of use.” While we haven’t heard the newer LP120X (which includes the newer AT-VM95E MM cartridge, a new DC servo direct-drive motor, and adjustable dynamic anti-skate control), we’d presume it’s just as good if not better.—ML

Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO ($599, no preamp)

At the higher end of “budget” turntables is Pro-Ject’s $599 Debut Carbon EVO, sold in the US with a Sumiko Rainier MM cartridge (or an Ortofon 2M Red in the UK and Europe). With a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, TPE-damped aluminum platter, and 33/45rpm electronic speed selection among other features, the aesthetically slick and sonically pleasing Debut Carbon EVO is an excellent gift for vinyl newbies as well as experienced audiophiles desiring a secondary (office, etc) setup.—ML

Phono preamp: U-Turn Pluto 2 ($99)

U-Turn’s original Pluto MM phono preamplifier was voted “best sounding” in an AnalogPlanet reader “blind test” a few years ago. The new $99 assembled in the USA Pluto 2 is attractive looking and though we’ve not auditioned it, the company’s 30-day no-questions-asked return policy makes it an ideal gift for your vinyl loving giftee.—Michael Fremer

Phono preamp: iFi Zen Phono ($199)

It might lack higher-end phono preamps’ loading flexibility, though through four fixed loading settings (MM 47k ohms, MC 47k ohms, 1k ohms, 110 ohms) iFi’s $199 Zen Phono MM/MC preamp accommodates a wide variety of cartridges. Plus, it sounds great. “I don’t think anyone sitting here would guess they were listening to a $199 phono preamp—until I switched to one that was considerably more costly,” Michael Fremer wrote. “It’s that good. The iFi Zen Phono is a no-brainer, easy to recommend, timbrally honest, especially quiet MM/MC phono preamp that’s priced near the bottom and performs many steps above its pay grade.”—ML

Archival inner sleeves (about $23)

The record collector in your life will appreciate an extra pack of these rice paper-like archival inner sleeves, which are all too easy to run out of. Mobile Fidelity’s Original Master Sleeves are currently backordered, so I’d recommend these Collector Protector sleeves (which I’ve personally used).—ML

AudioQuest Super-Conductive Anti-Static Record Brush ($30)

AudioQuest’s upgraded Super-Conductive Anti-Static Record Brush is our preferred tool for crucial record-brushing maintenance. Best kept right by the turntable, this 1,248,000-carbon fiber brush removes static and microscopic dust from record grooves, contributing to a smoother listening experience.—ML