In 2025, vinyl continues to boom, with the highest number of record sales since 1984. If you own a record player, you’ve probably got a nice collection of records with music you love. One of vinyl‘s great benefits is its sound quality, but which records bring out the best in the format?
I’ve picked 20-plus of the best-sounding records from a bunch of different genres — including jazz, pop, punk and electronica — starting in the 1950s and all the way up to the 2010s. There’s a preponderance of ’70s records here, but what can I say? It was the best decade for vinyl.
Keep in mind that it’s subjective, as these kinds of lists always are. But if you want to augment your record collection or perhaps buy a record for your favorite music fan, you’ll find something to like here.
Source: CNET
