Also, using external components also means higher quality. The options for customization are endless, depending on the components you pair it with. The tone arm also holds the cartridge and stylus in place.įor more on the components of a turntable, read this post.Ī turntable will require external components for you to actually use it to listen to vinyl records, but most enthusiasts prefer them. In simple terms, the stylus runs in the grooves of the record and transmits the vibrations through wires in the tone arm to the cartridge, which takes that information and transmits it to the pre-amp which turns it into sound via an external amp and speaker. Usually it will also have a pre-amplifier, which allows you to connect the turntable to an external component without a dedicated phono input. It also comes with a stylus, a cartridge and a tone-arm. Obviously there is the turntable itself, which includes the motor and the platter. You will have to buy these separately and connect them to the turntable using RCA cables (usually).Ī turntable like this only has a handful of components. In this sense of the word, a turntable is similar to a record player, except it does not come with built-in speakers or an amplifier. It is the part of the player that holds the record and spins it.īut turntable also refers to a standalone unit you can purchase. In its basest form, a turntable is simply a major component of a record player. Then we will help you figure out which one is right for you. Let’s begin by defining each of these two terms individually and taking a closer look at each. 2 Record Player Vs Turntable: Final Thoughts.1.3 Which should I buy: a turntable or a record player?.

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