Choosing a Motor Record Player
Before the CD players, the cassette tape players, and the MP3 players, there were record players.
Some would consider the record player technology as old-fashioned. Something our parents and grandparents used. However, surprisingly the turntable has been making a comeback in some circles. To some people, it never went out of style.
Many people show interest in getting a record player or starting a vinyl collection. But before you buy a record player, it is important to understand exactly what you are buying. Knowing different parts helps you to understand or replace any components in your player if the need arises.
What are the significant parts of a record player?
Diagnosing problems and knowing which parts you need to replace is easier when you know the functions of each piece of your record player.
- Turntable - Turntable and record player are often used interchangeably yet they are not the same. A turntable is the part of a record player where the record sits. On the other hand, a record player is an overall device that houses all the components including the turntable. Turntable plates are either made of plastic or metal, but covered with a rubber mat to protect them from scratches. Some are made of rubber and a metal rod in the center to hold it while it spins.
- Stylus - The stylus is the needle that rests on a record player and runs in the grooves while playing. It is cone-shaped and made of diamond. Most manufacturers make it from diamond because it is the hardest natural material on earth. Other manufacturers make it from sapphires. The stylus is connected to a tonearm using a flexible metal strip. The flexibility between the stylus and the tonearm makes it possible for the stylus to revolve up and down on the grooves of the record.
- Tonearm and cartridge - The tonearm and cartridge work together. The tonearm holds the stylus connecting it to the record player house. You will find some straight tonearms and some either curved or S-shaped. The cartridge translates the record's grooves. The stylus reads into actual sounds you hear.
- Pre-amplifiers and amplifiers - They transfer signals from the record player to stereo speakers. They are the reason behind the frequencies of the different sounds you hear, such as the base and treble. Speakers then transmit sound data to either a record player or an external component connected via a cable.
Record players have an old-fashioned technology. However, modern record player parts make the quality sound delivery of turntable, just like CDs and MP3 players.
What is a pitch control on a record player?
It is a control on your audio devices, such as a tape recorder, a turntable, or a CD player, that allows the operator to deviate from the turntable's average speed, such as 33 rpm, 45 rpm, or 78 rpm.
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