Academy Records
12 W. 18th St., 212-242-3000, Flatiron District, Manhattan
Now that audiophiles have resurrected vinyl from the dustbin of history—turntables aren't quite the new iPods, but they're not exactly 8-tracks, either—Academy Records' offerings are even more impressive. The store features an endless variety of used CDs, DVDs and vinyl, some of them so lightly used that they're like new. One essential rule of thumb for visits here: allow yourself ample time to rummage, so that you can find the gems among the extensive collections of recordings and films, including some on VHS (if you can't find what you're looking for, ask the staff in the back to check the stockroom). Academy deals are unlike any other—boxed sets, for instance, are available at an attractively discounted price. Academy's jazz, classical and opera selections are some of the most comprehensive in the City, and the shop specializes in obscure recordings that you may not be able to find elsewhere. If you're looking for a particular release, call the shop once a week to find out if it has come in—the store's buyers are well versed in new arrivals.