WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A TURNTABLE
BUDGET
There’s no other hi-fi component where spending a little more can reap returns as in turntables. Being complex mechanical systems, the difference between entry-level and mid-level, or between mid-level and the high-end, can be profound.
So if there’s somewhere to spend a few extra dollars on your system, the turntable is the place.
PHONO STAGE
The signal from a cartridge is very small, and requires its own phono amplification and EQ. This can be just a dedicated phono input on an amplifier, but if your amp doesn’t have one of those, you’ll need a standalone phono stage to do the job — or a turntable which has its own phono stage built in. Several in our round-up have this option (look for a line-level output option in our specs boxes), and you can always flick a switch to return to phono-level output if you want to upgrade your sound by adding a superior external box later.
AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
It’s one of vinyl’s ironies that the more you spend, the less likely you are to have automatic operation, where the arm lifts itself off the vinyl at the end of the record (semi-automatic) or does the whole start-up too, moving the arm and dropping it on the record (fully automatic). The additional mechanics can affect sound quality, which is why you’re expected to do all that work yourself on higher-level decks which are putting sound quality first. But we confess we find at least semi-automatic operation pretty handy, especially for playing singles or late at night when we fall asleep while listening...
THE CARTRIDGE
Don’t underestimate your cartridge! It makes all the sound; the rest of the turntable is just a support system to keep the cartridge in the groove and free from external vibration. The cartridge isn’t something you’re likely to worry about at purchase, because nearly all decks these days come with one, and many are pre-installed and aligned so you won’t need to master the complicated process of cartridge installation and alignment. However, a replacement cartridge can provide a budgetfriendly upgrade path, and you will need to swap out your cartridge (or stylus, if it’s separately replaceable) eventually because the diamond point of the stylus will wear out. How quickly? Somewhere between 1000 and 3000 hours of playing time — let your ears be your guide. If you consider upgrading from a moving-magnet cartridge to a superior moving-coil breed, make sure your phono stage can handle the lower signals from this cartridge type.
BELT DRIVE OR DIRECT DRIVE
If you’re DJing, direct drive offers faster start-up and an easier possibility of speed control for beatmatching. Otherwise we’d traditionally have said go belt-drive for the better sonic isolation and speed stability — except that some modern direct-drive turntables are proving highly adept at hi-fi replay.
STRANGE MODERN FEATURES
A built-in phono stage means you could plug your turntable straight into a pair of active speakers for a cool and minimalist system. There’s one turntable in this group which has its own amplifiers too, so it’s a whole system, just add a pair of passive speakers.
And there are turntables which have USB-B output, so they can play into computers (and be recorded), or which offer Bluetooth output, so that they can send their output wirelessly to a pair of Bluetooth speakers or a Bluetooth-equipped amplifier (‘meh’ — we’d recommend cables if you can) or to Bluetooth headphones (a great solution).
SUPPORT AND CLEAN
All hi-fi benefits from good solid support, but a turntable most of all — keep it level, isolated from vibration, and clean. Clean your vinyl too, even if it’s just a wipe with a non-shedding cloth (cloth nappies are good) before and after each spin of a disc.