PLAYERS 101: THE PARTS OF THE TURNTABLE

These are the terms you need to know to master your new Bluetooth turntable

While most modern Bluetooth turntables are very much ‘plug and play’ affairs, all those moving parts can be a little daunting. This is especially true if you need to set up your record player.

Most modern turntables, particularly at the lower end of the price scale come pre-assembled, but as they get more expensive you can expect to set them up yourself. Even if your new turntable comes assembled right out the box, it’s important to have a basic idea of the different parts that make up the record player; after all, you may as well embrace the geeky goodness of getting to know your latest gadget.

Plinth – this is the base of your turntable. Be sure to place it on a level surface to avoid the mechanisms of your record player being thrown off kilter.

Platter – the circular part of the turntable that spins.

Belt drive – a thin rubber strap that rotates the platter.

Tonearm – this is the part of the turntable that holds the cartridge, guiding the stylus (or needle, if you prefer) through the tiny grooves on your vinyl. If your turntable doesn’t come pre-assembled, you’ll need to balance the tonearm so the stylus sits at the correct point on your record.

Cartridge – this is the small box-like appendage that sits on the end of the tonearm and contains the stylus. As the platter spins the record, vibrations travel through the stylus and into the cartridge, where a magnetic field converts this kinetic energy into an electrical signal. The stylus is usually made by a tiny piece of diamond attached to a flexible metal strip.

Preamp or phonostage – this isn’t always included in the turntable itself (some models require an external phonostage). It amplifies the electrical signal from the cartridge, so you can hear the music when it reaches your speaker or headphones.