Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Best Turntable

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In a world dominated by the internet, listening to music online is the go-to. But there’s something inexplainable about the warm, clear authentic sound of a vinyl record spinning on an old-school turntable.

As any music lover, you’re probably on the hunt to find the best turntable to make your vinyl collection shine! If you’re looking for a quick and easy rundown of the types of turntables and which is the best to buy, you’ve landed on the right page.

We’re going to break down:

What to Look for in a Turntable
Belt-Drive vs Direct-Drive Turntables
Should I Buy a Belt-Drive or Direct-Drive Turntable?
Manual, Automatic & Semi-Automatic Turntables

What to Consider when Buying a Turntable for Beginners

When looking for a turntable, you need to think about what features are important for you. So, we’re going to list down all things you can take into consideration when choosing a turntable, and you can decide which ones you’d like to have!

Design:
When it comes to turntables, they’re not just music players, but a stunning statement piece in any room. Different turntables have different colours and aesthetics, so choosing a design that will suit where it’s meant to be placed will level up your décor to a whole new level!

Speakers:
One of the most important things to check is if the turntable comes with built in speakers or not. If it doesn’t, keep in mind that you will have to buy separate speakers. Even though it’s an extra step, it’s known to make the sound quality much more significant.

Bluetooth:
With the option of Bluetooth connectivity, you can have the option to connect to wireless speakers and headphones to give you versatility in how you’d like to play your tunes!

Budget:
Depending on the price range, you can find varying turntables that suit your budget. Of course, the higher you’re willing to invest in your budget, the more options open up, but fear not, you have over 100 of the best turntables to choose from!

Sound Quality:
Some turntables have better sound quality than their counterparts, and it is also mostly reliant on the type of turntable you choose.

Type of Turntable:
This is one of the most important things to consider, because what and how you will use it will be determined by its type; whether it’s a belt-drive or direct-drive turntable, and whether it's an automatic or manual one.

Belt-Drive vs. Direct-Drive Turntables: What's the Difference?

When you're looking at turntables, there are two main types: belt-drive and direct-drive. Let's break down what each one does and explore their advantages and limitations.

Belt-drive turntables use a rubber belt to spin the platter. This makes them run smoothly because the belt stops the motor's vibrations from affecting the platter, producing a cleaner sound.

Direct-drive turntables have the motor connected straight to the spindle, which powers and turns the platter directly, hence the name “direct drive”, making them ready to use out of the box.

Belt-Drive Turntables

Advantages of Belt-Drive Turntables

Quality of Sound: This is a major advantage. With belt-drive turntables, you can listen to your favourite vinyl with as little distortion as possible, making the sound quality smooth as butter.

Limitations of Belt-Drive Turntables

Maintenance: Since it uses a rubber belt, this belt needs to be replaced every once in a while, due to it wearing out.

Spin: keep in mind that you cannot easily spin the record since there’s resistance from the belt that is situated around the record. So, for DJs that want to show off and spin the wheel, this is not going to be your top pick.

Limited speed levels: You’re able to adjust the speed of the music if you wish, but with limited levels in comparison to direct-drive.

Direct-Drive Turntables

Advantages of Direct-Drive Turntables

Spin: Once the motor is turned off, the record can be spun freely, making it the optimal choice for DJs around the world. They can easily spin the record in any direction and not damage the motor underneath when it is off.
Quick Start feature: Direct drives often come with a quick start feature which means the music will be at the right pitch from when your stylus is first placed on the record.
Adjustable controls: You can easily adjust speed & tempo on direct-drive turntables.

Limitations of Direct-Drive Turntables

Quality of Sound: The quality would still be great, but once compared to belt-drive turntables, you can see how the motor underneath the direct-drive adds additional noise to the turntable, making it second to belt-drive in terms of perfect clarity of sound.

Should I Buy a Belt-Drive or Direct-Drive Turntable?

What are Manual, Automatic and Semi-Automatic Turntables?

Let's talk about the different operations of turntables you'll come across:

Each one works a little differently.

Manual Turntables

These are the most common type you'll find. With manual turntables, you turn on the motor yourself and carefully place the tonearm on the record to start playing your music. When the record ends, it keeps spinning, but the needle stays put on the record, and once it completely stops, you will have to lift it back up into its resting position.

Manual Turntable Advantages & Limitations

Manual turntables have fewer parts and are much simpler. Plus, with no extra features on the tonearm, it helps avoid any potential issues with tracking. Since it is much simpler with less extra parts and internal mechanisms, this makes maintenance much more easier.

Not to mention that a manual turntable with great quality will provide superior sound quality and a more engaging vinyl listening experience!

Automatic Turntables

These ones have a handy button that does two things: it puts the needle on the record at the right spot and starts the motor spinning all at once. Plus, there's a stop button that halts the record and moves the needle back to its starting spot.

Automatic Turntable Advantages & Limitations

This is a beginner-friendly Turntable. It starts and stops the Turntable automatically so there is much less effort to make it work and are much less prone to potential Vinyl damage. You won’t have to stress over having your stylus stuck in the outer groove, everything is automatically handled for you.

So, if you want to casually listen to your vinyl collection and have something easy and convenient to own, this would be the best choice! Especially if you love falling asleep to your favourite songs, this eliminates the stress of keeping your eye on the stylus.

It is ideal for functionality and convenience but keep in mind, since it has extra components, it will affect the sound and produce slightly unwanted noise.

Semi-Automatic Turntables

These are a bit in between. They don't have buttons to control the needle, but can control certain elements on their own. Most of them will stop the motor when the record's done and lift the needle, though it might not go back to the starting point. Some only stop the motor, while others only lift the needle.

Knowing now the advantages & limitations of both manual & automatic turntables, you can choose semi-automatic turntables that have the features that you want.

With a massive range of turntables and types to choose from, you can also browse different colours and styles that would add that perfect touch to your décor! Imagine adding a beautiful coloured vinyl on top of that! There are over 2000 of the most popular vinyl to choose from, and if you need any tips on maintenance, check out how to clean your vinyl records.