If you’re planning to buy a modern phonograph, there are a couple of types that you can choose from—the turntable and the record player. While these two terms are used to refer to either or both audio devices commonly, they are technically different from each other even when they can also function in the same way. They have minute differences that need to be taken note of not to purchase one while expecting it to work as the other.
What is a turntable? What is a record player? To answer your questions and clear up the confusion, we came up with this article that contains enlightening research, allowing you to identify the one that better suits your audio needs.
Record Player Vs. Turntable: The Differences
To start, here is a brief listing of the primary differences between the two audio devices:
| Turntable | Record Player |
| • Smaller and simpler • Lighter in weight • Provides basic record-playing functions • No speakers • Customizable | • Larger and bulkier • Heavier • Incorporated with extra functions • Includes various components, including speakers • A bit customizable |
What Is A Turntable?
Now that we know the fundamental differences between these devices, what is a turntable? The turntable isn’t an all-in-one device. Its primary function is to read music that is embedded in your record. Its system is composed of a platter that gets to hold and spin your record and a cartridge or a tonearm that reads the music from your records. The turntable requires a few extra things to function. It needs an amplifier, a preamp, and speakers to provide you with audio feedback.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, the turntable best represents the antique phonograph that Thomas Edison developed in the late 1800s. To function, it needs to read the grooves etched in your vinyl record and convert them into a tiny electrical signal referred to as a PHONO signal.
The device’s preamp strengthens the small PHONO signal, which gets inputted into a receiver or an amplifier. While most turntables are incorporated with built-in preamps, some aren’t. A turntable without an integrated preamp requires one so that it gets to follow the exact conversion and boosting process.
As soon as the PHONO signal gets into the amplifier, the amp will further power up the signal so that it can capably drive the player’s designated speakers. While not all turntables are equipped with a built-in receiver or amplifier, some of them are. Such turntables are called ‘powered turntables.
When the signal gets to drive the speakers effectively, the speakers transform them into music that travels through the air, reaching our ears.
A typical turntable has several parts. They are the following:
- Plinth – the chassis or base of the turntable
- Platter – the part that holds and spins your record
- Tonearm – this part holds the device’s cartridge and moves it across the vinyl as it gets spun and played. It is also attached to the plinth on one of its ends.
- Cartridge – the part that is holding the stylus; it also serves to transform the stylus’ movement into an electric signal.
- Stylus or needle – this part reads the grooves in your record as it moves with them.
- Speed Selector – this function allows you to choose the speed by which the device gets to spin. It enables the turntable to several speeds—33 RPM, 45 RPM, and even 78 RPM.
Turntables that already have built-in preamps get to provide line-level signals. Such turntables do not need any extra preamps and can be directly connected to a receiver or an amplifier. You can find amplifiers or receivers that have incorporated preamps. These devices can be directly attached to a turntable without any preamp in between.
Many turntables permit you to upgrade or replace their cartridges and needles. Such a customization capability enables you to change these two turntable components, especially when they’re already worn and damaged. Higher-end cartridges and needles permit you better audio feedback, as well.
Some turntables allow you to alter and adjust tracking weight, cartridge alignment, and anti-skate. Such adjustments are deemed necessary when you want to improve audio quality and lessen your records’ inevitable wear-and-tear.
What Is A Record Player?
On the other hand, a record player is a device with all the different components built into it. Hence, it already has a turntable, a preamp, an amplifier, and speakers. So, you don’t have to add all those extras and even reduce the web of wires commonly found when using a turntable and all its necessary devices.
Nevertheless, customization fanatics may find the record player a bit monotonous as it offers only a few options to adjust. These parts may only compose of the stylus or needle downforce and player’s cartridge alignment.
Record players are streamlined because they are more complex than the simple turntable but are neater to look at. They are fine audio devices mostly opted for by music enthusiasts who do not have the extra time to tweak and alter various parts of their equipment.
Which Should I Buy: Turntable or Record Player?
Now that we’ve answered the questions, “What is a turntable? and What is a record player?” the next step would be identifying the best audio equipment based on your biases and needs. To get to that, here are several elements you should look for:
Build Quality
Turntables have studier builds than record players. While it is perfectly possible to have record players that are more durable than most, the ones available in the market aren’t. Record players are typically designed to look aesthetically excellent, mainly because they are incorporated with all the different parts to play automatically.
Turntables are much more identical to antique phonographs. They cannot automatically provide you with music without a preamp, an amp, and a speaker. However, the choice is yours, and you can either opt for a record player’s automatic music playing function or a turntable’s durable build.
Audio Quality
While record players can provide you with easy music, the turntable’s audio quality is far better than that of the former. Since record players have all the necessary equipment packed into a single audio package, it has smaller speakers and possibly a preamp and amp of the lower-end bracket. Turntables allow you to fully customize its functions, allowing you to add higher-end speakers, preamp, and amp. Thus, you can further improve your turntable’s sound quality as well.
Record Damage
Remember that record players have cartridge alignment and tracking weight or stylus downforce pre-fixed at the factory level. Thus, they may not be carefully set up instead of turntables that permit you to customize capabilities fully. If you want your records to last longer, turntables are far better options than record players. They are more capable of careful record-playing, letting your records last longer.
Prices
While efficient record players can be easily purchased for $50 to $100, superb turntables are generally more expensive. The customization capability allowed for turntables causes their skyrocketing prices. Nevertheless, if you want an audio device that provides you with better functions, the turntable is still the better choice in the long run.
Setup
While record players merely require you to connect it to a power source, the turntable requires additional equipment to function. The turntable needs a preamp, an amp, and speakers. It can be confusing to choose between when you realize that a turntable necessitates more expenditure than you are willing to pay for.
If you are looking to find an efficient vinyl player, you can always opt for the record player that already has all the necessary components built into it. It is considerably cheaper than most turntables and won’t even require you to spend extra cash. However, most audiophiles recommend purchasing a turntable because of its capacity to last longer and, therefore, is a much better investment in the long run.
Conclusion
While many people still get confused about identifying both the turntable and the record player, this article pinpointed the differences between the two devices. We answered both the questions, “What is a turntable?” and “What is a record player?” by offering you explicit and differing descriptions of both.
As it happens, both of these devices enable you to play your vinyl records, but only one of them resembles the original phonograph of the past—the turntable. The phonograph and the modern turntable offer you robust audio quality that cannot be outdone by a cheaper alternative such as the cool-looking record player.
While the record player offers you instant vinyl record playing, its sound quality is drastically far less in quality than that of the turntable. So, which should you choose? Should you opt for the turntable or the record player? The answer still depends on your specific audio preference, of course.
