Boytone Bt-14Tbb-Sp Full Size Turntable 3 Speed 33/45/78 RPM

There are all sorts of record sizes and speeds out there. 33 1/3... 45... 78... but what's number one? This is a rundown of the common types of record sizes and speeds. 78rpm records are the earliest type of record. Spinning at 78 revolutions per minute, these are typically made of shellac. 78s have deeper grooves, which limit playtime to about 3 minutes on a 10" disc. 78s require a specific type of stylus, like the one in the Electrohome Kingston. 33rpm, 12-inch vinyl records came next. This format allows for more information to be printed on a smaller record without losing fidelity. However, at the time of their emergence, the popularity of radio meant consumers weren't buying expensive records when they could listen to the radio for free. That changed in the late 1940s when Columbia Records began selling a 33rpm system. Its marketing hook: the longer playtime meant you could listen t