How to Choose a Turntable

In a fast-paced world, it is possible to stop time and enjoy music to the fullest. Listening to a vinyl record is the ideal way to disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with our favorite albums. The return of vinyl is not a passing fad: it has well and truly reestablished itself in our lives. To enjoy your records, you will need a turntable. For many, this will be their first turntable. For others, it will be their first in a very long time. Here is a guide to choosing the right turntable.

Turntable 101

Are you looking for your first turntable and don't know what you need? Let's start at the beginning! Here's what you absolutely need to know before purchasing your turntable.

First, the signal that a turntable sends to your sound system is weaker than most other sources (CDs, network players, TVs, even your old cassettes!). That's why you'll need to connect your turntable to the PHONO input on your amplifier. This input, dedicated to turntables, has additional preamplification that will bring the sound from your turntable to the same level as your other sources. If there is no PHONO input on your system, external PHONO preamplifiers are available to remedy this situation. You will also need to connect a third wire, called the ground, to the dedicated terminal. This will serve as a ground, preventing unwanted humming noise.

You may have heard of automatic and manual turntables.

An automatic (or fully automatic) turntable, as the name suggests, will have automated functions. It will have a speed selector (33 1/3 or 45—and sometimes 78) and also, what particularly characterizes automatic models, a button that will start playback—the platter will begin to turn and the arm will move to the beginning of the record and return on its own to the end of the side of the album being played. Although convenient, automation of the tone arm can cause additional vibrations that may be audible and even create physical resistance that prevents the needle from properly positioning itself in the groove of your record. This can affect the reproduction of low frequencies and the overall volume of the music.

A manual turntable, on the other hand, offers no automation. In the case of a 100% manual turntable, the only button you will find is the one that turns the motor that drives the belt, which in turn turns the platter on which the record is placed. You will also have to manipulate the tonearm and place the needle at the beginning of the record yourself, using a mechanical lever. You will also have to lift the tone arm at the end of the side being played (to prevent the needle from hitting the cardboard label in the middle of the record, which could damage your needle). To change the playback speed, you will need to change the position of the belt via a barrel system. It may seem complicated at first, but it's not rocket science! The result of a well-calibrated manual turntable is worth the extra effort. For vinyl enthusiasts, it's a listening ritual that enriches the experience as much as the warm sound of a good album and its large-format cover!

Semi-automatic turntables combine practicality with pleasure. These turntables have a speed selector, but the arm remains free of any motorized system that could adversely affect sound quality. Note that there are speed control boxes available that allow you to select between 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm and can be connected to a manual turntable. These speed boxes, connected between the power outlet and the turntable, also serve to regulate the current sent to the turntable to achieve perfect playback speed at all times.

Finally, there are two main types of turntables: belt-driven turntables and motor-driven turntables (Direct Drive).

A belt-driven turntable (the vast majority of models) will have a motor on which a rubber belt is installed. The belt is connected to the platter and will rotate it. The advantage of this process is that it allows the motor to be placed in a location where it will be isolated from the turntable structure, thereby eliminating vibrations. High-end turntables will have an external motor that is completely separate from the turntable.

In the case of a motor-driven turntable (Direct Drive), as the name suggests, it is the motor that directly rotates the platter. This high-precision speed technology is reserved for certain specific models.

The motor must be very quiet and its vibrations must be controlled in a structure with optimal insulation.

Choosing the right turntable for you

There are several types of turntables on the market. Whether you are new to vinyl or an experienced audiophile, there are turntables to suit everyone's needs.

There are affordable entry-level turntables, often called “USB turntables” because these models are usually equipped with a USB port that allows you to digitize your records (using recording software on your computer) to create high-resolution or MP3 files. It's important to note that the USB port is not used to connect a USB turntable to a sound system with a USB input. It is only used to record your records to a computer (the recording is done completely without sound to prevent noise from reaching the needle during transfer). These turntables are often made of plastic. They are lighter and more sensitive to vibrations, which will affect playback.

For a more stable construction, look for wooden turntables. They are more solid and mounted on better feet that are designed to further reduce vibrations. Everything is designed to ensure that a minimum of unwanted vibrations reach the stylus, thus achieving the most faithful musical reproduction possible. These turntables are also sold with higher quality cartridges than their USB counterparts.

As you move up the quality scale, you'll find better components, such as tonearms made of lighter materials that are acoustically free of harmful resonance (alloy, carbon, magnesium). The quality of the cartridge will also improve. Some more expensive turntables are delivered without a cartridge, leaving the buyer free to install their favorite cartridge.

Higher-end turntables are also available to satisfy the most demanding connoisseurs. These range from turntables with more esoteric suspension designs to customizable turntables where you can choose the components you want (tonearm and cartridge, platter, anti-vibration feet, etc.).

Cartridges and needles

There are two main types of cartridges (or cells): moving magnet cartridges and moving coil cartridges.

Moving magnet (MM) cartridges are the most common. The movement of the stylus in the groove will then drive a cantilever (the metal rod that acts as a lever on which the stylus is placed) with a magnet at its tip, located in the cartridge housing. This magnet will create a magnetic field that will then be picked up by coils connected to the tonearm. The latter will carry the signal to the turntable's output.

Moving magnet cartridges are popular because of their more affordable prices and the output power they can offer. Their needles can also be changed very easily, unlike moving coil cartridge needles, which must be replaced by the manufacturer.

Moving coil (MC) cartridges are prized by audiophiles seeking dynamics and precise detail. The movement of the stylus in the groove will also drive a cantilever, but this time there will be a coil on the cantilever, fixed in the cartridge. Magnets placed inside the cartridge housing create a constant magnetic field. The signal sent to the tonearm will be weaker than that of a moving magnet cartridge. A PHONO preamplifier dedicated to moving coil cartridges will be required.

Special cartridges are designed for listening to mono and 78 rpm records. Mono cartridges are more resistant and less sensitive to damaged records. The needles of 78 rpm cartridges are made of a material that will not damage the records. Since they spin much faster than 33 and 45 rpm records, a “normal” stylus could cause irreversible damage to your 78 rpm records.

The stylus is the point of contact between your record and your turntable. A properly installed cartridge and a well-calibrated tonearm will allow you to align the stylus correctly in the grooves to reproduce all the frequencies of the music. The stylus must also be positioned correctly in the groove to reproduce the sounds coming out of the left and right channels in a balanced and pleasant way.

More affordable needles are conical in shape. Simpler in design, these needles are also more resistant to minor accidents during use. As we move up the price range, we begin to find elliptical-shaped needles. More pointed, their shape better matches the shape of the grooves for better contact and a richer sound. Contact and micro-linear styluses are the highest-end styluses, offering remarkable audio performance. They should be paired with high-quality turntables and tonearms to appreciate their advantages.

Turntable accessories

Many accessories are available to enhance your vinyl listening experience.

PHONO preamplifiers convert the signal from a turntable to that of a standard source (e.g., a CD player). This makes it possible to connect a turntable to an amplifier that does not have a PHONO input. There are models capable of handling signals from both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges. Higher-performance models are also available. Some offer voltage and impedance adjustments and even filters to adapt to the technical specifications of your cartridge. There are also tube PHONO preamplifier models that allow you to enjoy the characteristic sound that only a tube can provide.

Anti-static brushes are a must for vinyl record lovers. The protective sleeves in which records are stored create static—especially on new records. This is very audible in the form of crackling when listening to the record. To eliminate static, simply spin the record a few times on the turntable while gently placing the brush on it.

Acrylic turntables are an excellent way to stop vibrations and prevent them from reaching your record and stylus. Acrylic, being an insulating and dense material, eliminates the resonance that can be found in a metal turntable and gives a more present and smooth sound. In addition, it is not necessary to use a mat on an acrylic mat.

There are several types of mats available. The most common are felt mats. Without any significant acoustic properties, their only use is to place the record on them without damaging it. There are also cork mats. Cork has antistatic properties that greatly reduce crackling noises. Finally, like cork, leather mat covers effectively reduce static and control the acoustic resonance of a metal turntable.

There are several cleaning accessories available, from simple stylus cleaners to a wide range of options for washing your records. Clean records in good condition will give you the best sound quality. Also popular are weights and record clamps of all kinds to keep the record securely in place while listening.

It is also possible to improve the signal sent to the sound system by adding higher quality RCA cables (with a ground).

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the terms 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm mean?

These are the number of revolutions per minute that a record will play at to reproduce the music at its actual speed. You will often see the suffix RPM after the numbers 33 1/3, 45, and 78. It stands for “Revolutions Per Minute.” Most “long-playing” albums (12-inch records) on the market need to be played at 33 1/3 rpm. However, there are exceptions. Since 45 rpm records spin faster, more information can be stored on the record for the same amount of music time, resulting in better sound quality. Most singles (7-inch records) should be played at 45 RPM. Nowadays, there are very few 78 RPM records on the market. Popular in the 1960s and earlier, these rarer records (often made of shellac rather than vinyl) require a special cartridge for 78 RPM records.

Can I listen to records on my computer speakers with a USB turntable?

No. The USB port used to connect the turntable to your computer is only for digitizing your records. Digitization is usually done without sound to avoid adding vibrations when playing the record.

My turntable doesn't have a USB port. Can I still use it to digitize my records?

Yes. There are several models of PHONO preamplifiers that have USB ports designed for digitizing your records.

What happens if I connect my turntable to a standard auxiliary input on my amplifier?

The sound will be extremely low, if not inaudible. However, it is important not to connect a “standard” source (such as a CD player) to the PHONO input. The sound will be very loud and distorted, which could irreparably damage your speakers.

I broke my stylus. Can I replace just the stylus, or do I have to replace the entire cartridge?

It is possible to replace just the stylus on a moving magnet cartridge. However, you must choose the exact model for your cartridge.

If your cartridge is quite old, it is advisable to replace the entire cartridge. Magnetic fields lose their power over time, which causes a loss of performance (lower output volume, reduced sound accuracy).

To replace the stylus on a moving coil cartridge, you will need to send the cartridge to the manufacturer. Since the stylus is attached to a cantilever fixed in the cartridge, replacing the stylus is a more complex operation.