what makes a turntable sound different

[millerman]

I know this is a stupid question but………….Ive heard some stunning turntables and seem some ridiculous prices and this got me thinking. What makes a good turntable? As I see it its just a spinning disc - no sound quality there except constant speed at 33.3 mph and a stick with a needle on the end of it. I can see how the cartridge can be so different but the rest?

So what is it that makes a turntable sound so different.

 

[stevebrock]

Well if you imagine your stylus is a little jack hammer vibrating so many times as second - your arm has to do a very good job of conforming to every single undulation whilst keeping the stylus deep in the groove permanently

 

[Frank Harvey]

The better a turntable is engineered, the better or more accurate it sounds.

 

[audioaddict]

yes i agree, the materials used make a huge difference. my technics built like a tank and to me sounds excellent though this t/t alone is a debate in itself lol just my opinion though. from what i can make out the recently awarded rega at 550 has great build quality and i guess the further you go up the ladder the build quality and materials used are far superior

 

[Tear Drop]

Vibration is extremely important - how it is controlled (or not), different materials and construction methods all play a different part, as they all vibrate in different ways. Speed stability is important also. Remember, the movements made by the stylus in contact with the record surface are extremely small, and the resulting electrical signal is minute compared to other sources. Small changes to any aspect of a turntable/tonearm/cartridge setup can yield big differences. Even the quality of polish of the stylus can be clearly heard. Changing your tonearm/cartridge alignment by fractions of a millimetre can be clearly heard. Add everything together, and when it is done right, one turntable can sound phenomenol whilst another, done wrong, can sound awful (just look at the LP12 oke.

 

[KeithT]

Well if you imagine your stylus is a little jack hammer vibrating so many times as second - your arm has to do a very good job of conforming to every single undulation whilst keeping the stylus deep in the groove permanently

Which is exactly why you need what I have or a later version. Max realised that those effects you describe affect the sound and designed the Rock and its trough to negate them. If you don't know what I'm atalking about, try this http://www.townshendaudio.com/the-rock-7/ ok so mine is an 80s version, but the principal hasn't changed and it still sounds damn fine!

 

[audioaddict]

lovely deck keith i dont think age has any bearing on quality if its made well in the first place......quality is quality

 

[floyd droid]

Max realised that those effects you describe affect the sound and designed the Rock and its trough to negate them.

With all due respect Keith , if I remember correctly the trough wasn't Max's idea. Jack Dinsdale patented the front end damping trough and approached Max to market the concept. Credit where credit is due .

 

[millerman]

Thanks guys, it strikes me that there is an awful lot of technology employed to stick a needle in a groove and keep it tight to the vibrations.

Im still bemused at the scope in sound quality for this little task. maybe i should stop thinking about it.

OK so why do cables sound different.......... only kidding

 

[stevebrock]

If I see another fooking cable thread arrrggggghhhh

 

[DIB]

If I see another fooking cable thread arrrggggghhhh

Don't you know that all threads sound the same?

.

 

[millerman]

DIB

and do you have the sciene to prove this point or is your assertion based upon your experence.

Maybe you are conditioned to expect that all cable threads read the same and therefore in your eyes are, its called visual neural awareness conditioning. Im not saying you are stupid or anything, just that you cant tell what you are seeing properly so leave it to those who know better eh. :silenced:

 

[drummerman]

If I see another fooking cable thread arrrggggghhhh

I find them interesting sometimes.

Lets face it, you spend a decent amount on components so why not spend a little bit (!) on something decent hanging out the back. Even if it only makes a subjective difference to you ... .

I rewire my TT's with shielded cabling and, where possible, further shield internal small signal cabling with copper tape. I recommended profigold's skyline range in another thread but I have no problem with folks using whatever they want, no matter how much it costs. If you can afford it ... .

I further use ferrite cores of different sizing liberally throughout my systems, externally as well as internal and I use a decent (shielded) power cable where appropriate.

My personal concern is not so much the hype and/or cost of cables but the construction itself. As I solder and cut many cables I can see how well (or not) they're done and its an interesting exercise.

regards

 

[DIB]

DIB

and do you have the sciene to prove this point or is your assertion based upon your experence.

Maybe you are conditioned to expect that all cable threads read the same and therefore in your eyes are, its called visual neural awareness conditioning. Im not saying you are stupid or anything, just that you cant tell what you are seeing properly so leave it to those who know better eh. :silenced:

Good point, well made.

My eyes aren't what they used to be so maybe I'm not reading these threads as well as I used to. I may have to go and buy a reasonably priced pair of Russ Andrews glasses.

.

 

[millerman]

Well err 'reasonable priced Russ Andrews glasses' what you have to consider is that the light which reaches yoru glasses is merely quanta of energy - it cannot physically be altered therefore any light recepticle will suffice (see quantum physiscs for a fuller explanation) for example I use some cling film wrapped around a frame made of pipe cleanres and guess what it reads perfectly well. I challnge anyone to an audio restricted sight test who says different.

Ive forgot which side of teh argument Im on now :wall: