David
Chief Content Editor at - searchturntablesSarah, a Philadelphia-based product review writer, boasts 7.5 years of experience in musical equipment, specifically turntables. She has contributed to various online publications, offering expertise on the latest gear. Outside of writing and attending concerts, Sarah enjoys family time and her pets.
David
Chief Content Editor at - searchturntablesSarah, a Philadelphia-based product review writer, boasts 7.5 years of experience in musical equipment, specifically turntables. She has contributed to various online publications, offering expertise on the latest gear. Outside of writing and attending concerts, Sarah enjoys family time and her pets.
The terms “turntable” and “record player” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different components of a vinyl playback system.
A turntable is a rotating platter on which a vinyl record is placed for playback. The turntable spins the record constantly, allowing the stylus (needle) to trace the grooves and produce sound. On the other hand, a record player is a complete vinyl playback system that includes the turntable, tonearm, cartridge, and built-in amplifier. Record players are more self-contained and typically include all the components necessary for playing vinyl records, while turntables require additional components such as a tonearm, cartridge, and amplifier.
Definitions:
- Tonearm: The arm on a record player that holds the cartridge and stylus and tracks the record’s grooves.
- Cartridge: The component of a record player that contains the stylus and converts the mechanical vibrations of the stylus into an electrical signal.
- Stylus (Needle): The small diamond-tipped cartridge component that sits in the grooves of a vinyl record and produces sound.
Statistics:
- According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), vinyl record sales in the United States reached a new high in 2022, with over 20 million records sold.
- Turntables and record players have grown in popularity in recent years as more and more people rediscover the warmth and richness of analog sound.
- While turntables and record players can range in price from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, the average cost of an entry-level turntable or record player is around $300-$500.
Tabular Column:
Component
Description
Turntable
The rotating platter on which a vinyl record is placed for playback.
Tonearm
The arm on a record player that holds the cartridge and stylus and tracks the grooves of the record.
Cartridge
The component of a record player that contains the stylus and converts the mechanical vibrations of the stylus into an electrical signal.
Stylus
The small diamond-tipped component of a cartridge that sits in the grooves of a vinyl record and produces sound.
Record Player
A complete vinyl playback system that includes the turntable, a tonearm, a cartridge, and a built-in amplifier.
Resource links:
- Vinyl Me, Please: https://vinylmeplease.com/pages/how-to-buy-a-turntable
- Crutchfield: https://www.crutchfield.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learn/turntables-101.html
- RIAA: https://www.riaa.com/
Summary:
The terms “turntable” and “record player” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different components of a vinyl playback system. A turntable is a rotating platter on which a vinyl record is placed for playback, while a record player is a complete vinyl playback system that includes the turntable, tonearm, cartridge, and built-in amplifier. With the recent resurgence in vinyl popularity, turntables and record players have become more widely available, with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.