How we choose to listen to music can say a lot about us as people. What kind of experience are you looking for when you stream music on your phone? Listening to background music on the speaker? Or when you put a vinyl record on the player? For many, a record player is as obvious to use and own today as it was in the 60s and 70s, when the vinyl record became a popular music medium around the world. The turntable gives us a way to get close to the music and creates a holistic experience.
– In recent years, many people have opened their eyes to analog sound and also to old and new vinyl players, I would say,” says Miroslaw Stasilowicz, who has been repairing and manufacturing LP players for over 30 years.
In his work with the company Veteran Hifi, he has gained a good knowledge of the brands that became major players in analog music equipment early on, producing high-quality classic turntables. Over time, the focus has shifted somewhat in the industry – the design of early turntables from the 60s, 70s, and 80s focused a lot on facilitating the actual music management and to a greater extent automate the listening itself. Today, automation is not as central as it was when the turntable needed to work for many more types of listeners.
How does a new turntable differ from an old turntable?
– The player is a mechanical construction that requires high precision. In the past, they were often made by hand from solid materials such as wood and metal. Today, many are made in larger production lines and with a higher proportion of plastic parts, which can of course affect the quality in some cases,” says Miroslaw Stasilowicz.
What types of turntables are there?
– Technically speaking, there are three different types of turntables that are powered in different ways – direct-drive, belt-drive or mid-wheel drive. The latter often applies to older turntables.
Belt-driven or direct-driven turntables, what’s the difference?
– There are some differences. Most turntables have a drive belt and they are somewhat simpler in construction. Therefore, they are often cheaper to make and to buy. Direct-drive turntables are more sophisticated and are ideal for, for example, a DJ who needs to be able to scratch the record.
Buying a second-hand turntable, what should I consider?
– What is important with any turntable is that the needle should be able to read the record without interference and vibration. Therefore, you need to make sure that the platter spins silently and that it is resonance-free. The needle and pickup are sensitive parts that are important to get a good sound in the player, but it is usually possible to replace it yourself if you buy it separately.
Find your way around classic vinyl players:
Rega and Pro-ject – modern turntables with a focus on sound quality
If you’re looking for a turntable in a modern and stylish package that also has good sound quality, these are two brands you should take a closer look at. The entry-level model in Rega’s Planar range is relatively simple but offers good quality for a small price, as does the Pro-ject Debut, which is popular with beginners. Their more expensive players are popular with high-end listeners who demand more. The design of the turntables is often stripped down and lacks convenient features or buttons. Most variants are manual but still reasonably easy to operate for someone unfamiliar with the vinyl medium.
Bang & Olufsen – turntables with a design focus
One brand that has always worked with challenging and innovative design is Bang & Olufsen. Their Beogram turntable has been produced in many different versions over the years and still holds up thanks to its forward-thinking and futuristic Danish design. Some later models of the Beogram have a tangential tonearm, which means that the tonearm moves perpendicularly along the record. This is an example of a distinctive and special design solution.
Thorens – retro classic vinyl player
If you’re looking for a classic turntable that comes from a long tradition of creating musical equipment, this is a brand to look into. Their players have been on the market since the 50s and are still of a very high quality, even those that are many years old. What’s distinctive about these turntables is that their design conveys a sense of nostalgia thanks to wooden details and a traditional design. Even the new variants can convey a retro look without compromising too much on sound quality. An added convenience on some models is that the speed can be adjusted at the touch of a button instead of having to lift off the platter and manually adjust the belt, which is common on many Rega or Pro-ject players.
Technics – the vinyl brand for DJs
A popular turntable for DJs is the 70s model SL-1200 from Technics. It was released during the disco era and has been upgraded in several versions since then. Unlike some other turntables, the original Technics version is direct-drive, making it quick to start and easy to control. If you’re looking to play music at high volume, Technics is a good choice as the players often have good internal damping that allows them to stand close to bass speakers without the needle jumping. Although Technics turntables are often associated with DJs, the brand also has entry-level and more expensive models that provide really high sound quality.
Text & photo: Amanda Blennborn, freelance journalist
