With the resurgence of vinyl and record sales doubling in the last year, we are in the middle of a Vinyl Revival and have seen seen a new generation of turntable buyers, and for those of us who remember buying their first LP, it’s good to see.
Here at iWorld we distribute a wide range of record players, and find a lot of customers asking the question, “Which record player should I buy”? Today’s turntables offer a wide variety of features and choosing the right record player can be daunting, so we’ve put together a simple guide of Turntable Basics to help you decide which best fit your needs.
What to think about?
The first thing you need to know is that vinyl is delicate and incredibly easy to scratch. It needs to be looked after. When you’re choosing a record player, you’ll need to think about what size you want and how much space you have, also how many add-ons and accessories you want.
How much of your music is on vinyl and how much is on a digital format?
For those who have a huge collection of vinyl’s you may want to preserve your favourite songs. Turntables with a USB connection make a great choice for transferring your record collection to a computer for storage and playback. Some plug into your PC, while others can record directly to a USB thumb drive. Most also come supplied with conversion software to help you edit and organise your music as you record it. Some of the popular models include the HolySmoke USB turntables & Crosley Cruiser.
Perhaps you want an All-In-One music system that allows you to play records but also CDs and your MP3 player, so make sure the product you purchase will support all these formats by checking there is a 3.5mm aux out or the correct functions to support these. Check out the Crosley Lancaster or Ricatech RMC90
Keep in mind that with any technology add-ons, a higher price means you get more features and accessories than you do at entry level.
Your needs will influence how much you spend and what features you’re looking for on a record player. If you want to connect and play your music in different formats, then you’ll have to buy a high end player with USB and jack plug features to plug in different devices. Perhaps you’re just testing the water with vinyl so opt for a lower priced unit.
Belt-drive vs direct drive.
One of the most basic design differences is the way in which a turntable spins the platter. A belt drive turntable spins the platter using an elastic belt that’s attached to the motor. The platter sits on a bearing (a bearing is a device that is used to enable rotational or linear movement) and is isolated from the motor. It is generally believed that belt drive turntables produce better sound quality due to less noise interference from the motor.
In a direct drive turntable, the platter is attached to and spins directly via the motor. Direct drive turntables offer more constant and accurate speeds, and generally feature faster start up times and stronger torque. DJs like direct drive turntables because they let you spin the platter backwards to create special sound effects, and because their relatively simple design offers great reliability.
Manual vs Automatic operation
Automatic Turntables essentially do all of the work “automatically”. You push a button that gets the motor spinning the platter and the turntable will lift the tonearm, move it over the lead-in grooves of the record, and lower the stylus to begin playing the album. At the end of the album, the turntable will raise the stylus from the record and move the tonearm back to its starting position.
Manual Turntables require more interaction as it’s necessary for the user to do all of the work “manually”. With manual turntables, the user pushes a button to start the motor, and physically places the tonearm over the record. At the end of the record, the user has to physically return the tonearm to its starting position.
Many manual turntables feature a cueing lever that assists with this process. The cueing lever allows the user to raise or lower the stylus to and from the record surface. The cueing lever makes it easier to gently lower the stylus anywhere on the record.
So which is better? This is usually a matter of opinion, but typically manual turntables will have better sound performance. In order to function properly, automatic turntables add gears and parts to a turntable that can affect performance and sound quality. Many audiophiles prefer manual turntables due to their simple design, added precision, and exceptional sonic performance. Most casual listeners probably wouldn’t notice the difference in sound between automatic and manual turntables. It all comes down to personal preference.
Stylus. The needle at the end of the tone arm is what tracks through the record grooves. You might need to replace your stylus if records are jumping or skipping. We offer replacements needles online and also with our resellers.
Speeds. Turntables play at three different speeds; 33, 45 and 78 RPM. This determines how fast a record should spin depending on how it was recorded. So make sure to look for a turntable that provides the proper rotation speed for the records you want to play.
How to care for your vinyl’s
Vinyl is incredibly delicate so you’ll need to care for it. Once it’s scratched, that’s it, you can’t repair it. Vinyl is also lighter than it used to be so you have to be extra careful.
Storage is important, vinyl’s should never be stacked, the weight of the records can cause some of the records to warp or even crack. Don’t store them near heat or in direct sunlight as this can also cause the records to warp. Only clean your vinyl with a specialised cleaner and brush, and I think we’ve all been guilty of doing this… Don’t use your t-shirt! Vinyl may look sturdy but actually it’s more like a malleable plastic. Check out our new HolySmoke Vinyl storage case & record cleaning kit.
If you’re listening to older records from your collection, you’ll find the grooves on the records themselves are deeper and the records heavier. You’ll be able to play them on any kind of turntable. However, newer vinyl is lighter with shallower grooves which might affect playback on turntables without weighted arms.
How to care for your record player
Make sure that it’s placed on a flat surface and out of direct sunlight. The slightest vibration can affect the quality of sound and can cause the needle to jump, so make sure that there are no external speakers on top of, or right next to the unit.
Be gentle with the components, using the small leaver next to the arm to lift and lower onto the records.
After you’ve finished using your record player, make sure to turn the unit off and disconnect it from your external power source. Close your dust cover, or the lid, to ensure that nothing unwanted gets inside and remember to place the plastic cap over the needle as it is extremely delicate.
There’s certainly a nostalgia about vinyl, but it’s not just about dusting off your old records and playing them, it’s also about listening to music in an entirely different way, it’s a richer and warmer sound compared to digital recording which can sound “flat”. Some would say that soft thump as the needle lands in the groove just before the music starts is a scene setter for listening to great music.
