Last Updated on March 2, 2023
There are many non-audiophiles or audiophiles wannabes who have not heard of a turntable. Not surprising, as turntables are honestly not that common after all. But what is surprising, is that some people naturally regard a turntable and a record player, or even a gramophone, as the same thing. In this virgin post, we will explain what is a turntable and the difference between the turntable and the record player.
Turntable 101
If you look around the Internet, a turntable is described as a circular plate that supports a phonograph. As the plate revolves, the sound will be produced.
To be more specific, a turntable is a combination of devices that produce sound with a tonearm and a phono cartridge. It is said that the items, when positioned correctly can produce sound, via the records, with little noise. The assembly of items that are required in a turntable setup will include a tonearm, phono cartridge as well as a phono preamp and an amplifier which will help to project the sound via a speaker!
Sounds like a handful, right? Not exactly. Here is how it looks like.
The above is a quick breakdown of the different items in a turntable itself. Now, let us move on to the different parts of the turntable.
Tonearm
The tonearm is the device that helps to translates the vibration from scratching the surface of the record to a sound itself via the amplifier. Getting a turntable with a stable tonearm will be important, as you wouldn’t want to hear crappy sounds coming out from the amplifiers.
The arm itself has to be flexible so that it can move along the record, yet at the same time, it must be heavy enough so that the vibrations of the motor will not affect the entire process. Quite an oxymoron, right? Not till you read that the entire arm must be frictionless too.
To prevent damage to both the record and the arm, the arm always tracks the record at a fixed tangent. This will allow uninterrupted and the smooth playing of music.
Platter
The platter is just a circular metal object that helps to spin the record as the tonearm scratches the surface. Of course, when we say scratching, there is no obvious screeching involve. Rather, it is just recording of the vibration between the tonearm and the record itself!
A good platter will usually be made of heavy materials as it will help to keep the sound and hence music steady. If the material chosen is too light, the entire record might fumble around.
Cartridge
The cartridge is essentially the small rectangular piece of item that utilized EMI (electromagnetic induction) to help transmits the grooves into music. There is a small stylus that touches the groove of the record that creates the minute movements in the EM field, which is integral in producing the sound that you hear from the speakers.
What To Look For In A Turntable
When shopping for a turntable, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Build Quality: A high-quality turntable should be built with durable materials that will last for years to come.
- Speed Stability: The platter on a turntable should spin at a consistent speed to ensure accurate playback.
- Tonearm Quality: The tonearm should be well-designed and well-built to ensure smooth movement across the record.
- Cartridge Quality: The cartridge should be of good quality and properly aligned to ensure accurate playback and minimize wear on the record.
- Features: Some turntables come with additional features such as built-in preamps, USB outputs, and Bluetooth connectivity. Consider which features are important to you when making a purchase.
What Is The Difference Between Turntable And A Record Player
When it comes to playing vinyl records, you may have heard the terms “turntable” and “record player” used interchangeably. While these terms refer to similar devices, there are some key differences between turntables and record players.
A turntable is a standalone device that is designed specifically for playing vinyl records. It typically consists of a platter that spins the record, a tonearm that holds the stylus (or needle) that reads the grooves on the record, and a cartridge that holds the stylus in place. Turntables require an amplifier and speakers to produce sound.
On the other hand, a record player is a device that combines a turntable with built-in speakers and an amplifier. Record players are typically more compact and portable than turntables, making them a popular choice for those who want to enjoy vinyl records without investing in additional equipment. However, the sound quality of record players may not be as high as that of a dedicated turntable setup.
Another key difference between turntables and record players is the level of customization and upgradeability. With a turntable, you can upgrade components such as the cartridge, tonearm, and platter to improve sound quality. However, most record players do not offer the same level of customization options.
Why Do People Use Turntables Then?
Interestingly, since the record player is an all-in-one package whereas you will need to purchase additional components for the turntable, why are people still purchasing turntables then?
Essentially, there are quite a bit of classics that do not have any digital records. And that is one of the reasons why true audiophiles love to use record players, gramophones and hence the turntables. The true pleasure of listening to songs from such devices are simply indescribable. Also, even if there are the digital version of the music, they can be of a lousy quality. Do you know that formats such as the mp3 format are a compressed version of the songs? It is compressed so that certain sound waves are taken out as they could not be heard by the human ear. But a combination of those sound waves can actually lead to a loss of sound quality too.
Also, some people love to listen to LP as they can be relatively cheaper than the CDs that you have. Of course, in this digital age, CDs are becoming a rarity, yet the digital versions can be more expensive and less resonant than LPs, especially when it comes to classical music or old classics. In actual fact, it is pretty cheap if you know where to find the LPs
With this, we certainly hoped we opened your mind to the turntable world. We will now dedicate the rest of the website to various reviews of turntables, phono cartridges, and even the amps as well as any listening devices that you will use to listen to the music!
