Record Turntables
Decades go by, but the power of the turntable never diffuses. Whether you're a vinyl addict looking to capture that classic, warm sound or a DJ or Bboy who spins tracks for a living, then the
turntable is your weapon of choice. A turntable system can also be reffered to as a
deck. Both older and newer turntables work the same way since their design hasn't changed much since the old days. However, there is a benefit to buying new, particularly on the high end.
Turntables use a stylus, commonly referredto as a needle, that is connected to the arm. The arm is powered by a motor. The needle, which runs over the ridges of a record, reverberates a magnet that then produces an electrical signal creating sound. All this happens because the LP spins on the rotating platter at a certain rate under the turnarm's weight.
There are two major types of record players. Usually, turntables for home use tend to be of the belt-driven sort, especially when it comes to vintage turntables.
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* '''Beltfi counterparts. These are fine for home use. For professionals they fall short because they have poor torque, slow startup speeds, and poor skip resistance.
* '''Directdrive turntables offer superior torque, best for scratching. However, they have bad isolation. The best of these models will offer suspension in order to counteract this effect, but they will usually cost at least $1000. Even without suspension they are still pricey for the average consumer but are ideal for a professional. They also claim the fastest startup, reliability, and great speed.
Convenience features, such as a semi or fully automatic turnarm (that stops and starts by itself) are handy, but they won't produce as good of sound quality as a manual turntable would. If you want a turntable simply for general home use, then an automatic or semi-automatic turntable will probably be more useful.
If you are very serious about becoming a DJ, then the best option would be to go with an advanced turntable. Buying something that is for "beginners" will leave you hanging within a year needing to buy a more advanced one. Also, keep in mind that a $200-$300 turntable is nowhere near the same in quality as a $1000 turntable, but models within a few hundred dollars or so of each other will be relatively similar in quality.
Another thing to watch out for are CD turntables and even the
iDJ, a device used as an iPod mixer. These are cool devices, but definitely not up to par for professional djing.
Professional Turntables and Becoming a DJ
If you are looking to get serious about DJing, here are some important things to look for in a turntable: three-band equalizer, headphone cueing, fader or focus fader, and curve adjustment.
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Remember to factor in all the extra expenses that will come along with setting up a turntable. Besides the initial purchase cost of the turntable, you also have to include the cost of consummables, such as cartridges, which must be replaced often to maintain the quality of your records.
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* '''Amplifier'''preamplifier'>phono preamplifier, otherwise the turntable will not work. You can easily connect the phono preamp to your receiver and then use the auxiliary line to listen to your vinyl.
* '''MM or MC'''cartridge'>Ortofonare common brands. When in doubt, choose your cartridge according to what type of mixer you choose, whether it be for scratching or for dance music.
* '''MixerDJM500'>Pioneer's DJM series are considered among the best mixers available.
* '''Headphones'''end headphones for the audiophile. The best bet for the pro are folding
headphones with coiled cords, and swiveling ear pieces. Plus, the most important thing is getting loud and clear sound.
Brands
'''Home Use:'''
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Dual
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Pioneer
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Garrard
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Thorens
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Denon: DP29F (Analog, $150) DP500M ($700)
'''DJ:'''
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Numark
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Stanton
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Technics turntable
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Vestax (Good for scratching)
