Pros and Cons of Listening to music via turntables
The vinyl resurgence is here, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing anytime soon. Well, what are the reasons why you should strongly consider getting a record player? And what reasons might make you think twice about buying the turntable? Well, in this section, we will consider the benefits and drawbacks of buying a turntable.
Better Sound
Forget about the compression rate or the resolution of your digital music files – nothing beats listening to a vinyl record. With this record, you are listening to the music in its purest recorded format. There is no compression here, unlike what you get from digital files. With the vinyl record, you are listening to the music exactly how the singer wants it to be heard. As vinyl records are not compressed, there is no loss of quality due to compression of the file.
Vinyl records offer you more impressive dynamics during the mastering process.
Vinyl records give a warm sound that isn’t obtained from your digital files. With these records, you get the feeling of being right in front of the artist and listening to a live performance. Everything sounds original and not over-processed like with the digital records.
Longing for a nostalgic feeling? Then you should consider the aura of the vinyl record.
Enjoy Listening to Music
Everything seems so processed and artificial today, and that sadly extends to music. The fast-paced nature of society today makes it a luxury to pause and smell the roses, so to speak. With a turntable, you can take a break from all the hustle and bustle of life and just sit to enjoy music. It takes time to set up a record, and you will have a cool time lifting the cue, lining up the record, and playing the music.
For some people, in fact, turntables have a therapeutic effect. You listen to one side, change it to listen to the other side, and generally have a really good time. Another thing about vinyl records is that they often come with unique artwork; this is something else that you can enjoy.
Having antique vinyl players and records can even serve as art pieces in your home. Therefore, you can enjoy a lovely connection with the songs you listen to.
Vintage Sounds
Loads of songs that were sang in the past are now available for digital download. However, there is still a large chunk of records that are not yet available in digital format – and even if they are, the quality might be horrible. Having a turntable is one way to enjoy these vintage records in all their glory. There are so many songs just waiting to be discovered with your turntable.
Economy
If you have plenty of records already, having a turntable means that you don’t have to buy the records in digital format. You can continue to enjoy listening to them with a turntable.
Records are often affordable and cheaper than buying digital songs.
As you can see, there are just so many cool reasons to have a turntable. The best time to get a turntable is right now.
Disadvantages of Turntables
Portability
There aren’t a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t get a turntable. The main reason why you might hesitate to get it is that it isn’t portable. You can carry a million songs on a very small device and listen to them whenever and wherever you want. However, with the turntable, you certainly need to have the record available and have somewhere to place the turntable on before playing.
Accessibility
Another downside of a turntable is that the records to be played might not be easy to obtain. Most musicians don’t make songs in vinyl records, so it can be stressful finding a record that you want.
How to properly set your turntable
We have written this section to help you know how to set up the turntable. Many people might assume that they can do this, but in actual practice, most people set up the turntable wrongly, which can cause damage to the record.
To know how to set up the turntable, you must know the things that make up the turntable. Although there are several options on the market, the turntable comes with some basic components.
The platter
This part is also known as the turntable and comes in every record player. It is the platter that holds the record in place and spins it. It is made of different materials depending on the model of the machine, however, most are made of aluminium. To prevent damage to the record, some manufacturers fit the platter with felt.
Arm
The arm consists of the needle and the cartridge. Without these two components, you cannot play a record. The needle is designed with a diamond tip that runs along the record’s grooves and transmits vibrations to the cartridge. This in turn sends the vibrations to the amp which signals sound output through the speakers.
Playing a record is straightforward, and when done correctly, will ensure that your record does not suffer from any form of damage.
To play a record, place the side of the record you want to play on the platter. Next, raise the cue lever to raise the arm. Move the arm to the outer edge of the vinyl. Then switch on the turntable and set it to the right speed. Once all these are done, lower the arm to bring the needle in contact with the record.
Features to consider when buying the best turntable under $2000
Before you head out to buy a turntable, there are some very important features that you should consider. We will discuss all of these features in this section.
Drive Type
There are two types of drives – belt drive and direct drive. The type of drive is an indication of how the motor is connected to the platter.
Direct-drive turntables, as the name implies, are units that have the motor directly connected to the platter. One advantage of this is that it reaches speed almost immediately the unit is switched on. Additionally, this type of drive has the platter spinning with little resistance. An example is Technics SL-1200MK7.
The belt-drive is more common for casual users. As implied by the name, this type of drive has an elastic band connected to the motor. It is noiseless and will give a more nuanced sound. The belt-drive is preferred by more users due to the better platter isolation that it gives. However, the elastic band will need to be changed after some time.
Tonearm
The tonearm of the turntable is often made out of a lightweight and durable material like carbon fiber. Its function is to track the record grooves. When choosing your model, you have to consider whether it is a manual or automated option.
The manual model has a manual lever that you need to physically lift before and after placing in the vinyl record. If you are concerned about the sound quality, a manual model is the best for you.
There is also the semi-automatic. With this type of model, you will manually lower the tonearm. It is automatic because after the record has played, the turntable returns the tonearm itself.
The automatic tonearm has all the functions automated. With the push of a button, the turntable will move the tonearm into position and when the record is done playing, it will lift the tonearm and shut off the motor.
Guarantee
Choosing a turntable involves considering the guarantee offered by the manufacturer. A longer guarantee time means that you can have recourse in cases of damage or repair. The longer the guarantee, the better as this assures that you can repair the turntable without additional cost. The Marantz TT-15S1 offers a 5-year warranty, which is the best on this roundup.
Speed
There are different types of vinyl records, and each one has a speed it is compatible with. Some of the turntables on the market have a speed switch for changing the speed. The most common speeds are 33 RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM. Some models have the ability to work with all three speeds or just two. The more the better. The models that we have reviewed , like the Cambridge Audio Alva TT, Pro-Ject RPM5, and the rest offer speeds of 33 and 45 RPM.
Dimensions
The size of the turntable you buy would depend on your preference and the space available. Turntables come at different sizes and some are bigger than others. The Pro-Ject RPM5 is the biggest that we have reviewed, while the Technics SL-1200MK7 comes as the smallest. Either way, we have reviewed models that are portable and will fit on most surfaces.
Outputs
This factor depends on how you prefer to listen to your music. If you prefer to connect headphones to your turntable or want a record player that can be connected with external speakers, then you should for a model with AUX outputs.
Platter
The platter is also referred to as the turntable and it plays an important part in the quality of your music and the lifespan of your record. The platter is made of different materials, with some made of felt, aluminium, or acrylic finish. The Pro-Ject RPM5 for example comes with an acrylic platter.
Accessories
When making a buying choice, you should consider if it comes with accessories. Some of the best accessories it can come with include extra needles, a dust cover, and vinyl cleaning sets.
Extra Features
You should consider the extra features that it comes with. For instance, does it have modern technologies like Bluetooth? Is it a wireless option? Does it offer USB connectivity? These are some of the things that you should consider when buying a turntable.
