The vinyl player is a sophisticated piece of equipment which has matured over the years of its existence. Over a period of time, the vinyl player has added new features and upgraded parts for delivering optimal sound quality. Yet, there are parts of vinyl player which are essential and haven’t changed since its origins but upgraded to better materials. In this article, I will walk through the anatomy of the vinyl player to help you familiarize with the vinyl player.
Parts of the Vinyl Player
1. Platter
Platter is the round rotating disc on which the vinyl is placed. The heavier the platter, the less vibrations it makes.
2. Slipmat
Slipmat or mat is the cloth or synthetic material which is placed between the vinyl record and platter. In addition to preventing skidding of discs, it helps isolate vibrations from the turntable motor.
3. Counterweight
Counterweight is an adjustable weight at the end of the tonearm. It helps to adjust the tracking force of the needle. Having the right amount of tracking force is important for the quality of sound. If the counterweight is set to too heavy, the needle can skip the record. However, if it is set to too light, then the tracking force will be more and the record may get damaged. You can use a Stylus Force Gauge to measure the correct amount of force needed.
4. Anti-skate
Anti-skate is a dial found on the turntable. When the record is spinning, the needle is pulled towards the spindle (center of the record) due to force. The anti-skate dial helps to keep the needle in the center of the groove or else the sound will be softer in one speaker than the other. If not set properly, the grooves on one side will worn off faster than the other.
5. Cue lever
The cue lever is used to place and remove the needle from the record. It moves vertically and should be handled with care.
6. Tone arm
Tonearm is the crucial part of the turntable. It is the arm which moves over the record. It is usually straight or S-shaped. The tonearm needs to be light weight as well as should be capable of reducing the vibration from the record. It is usually made from some kind of alloy or aluminium.
7. Pitch Control
Pitch control is used to fine tune the speed of the rotation of the platter. It has +/- options and is available in percentages.
8. Plinth
Plinth is the base of the vinyl player. It is designed to be heavy to damp the vibration from the rotating motor.
9. Headshell
Headshell is the part at the end of the tonearm where the cartridge is mounted. It is used to connect the cartridge and needle to the tonearm.
Cartridge
Cartridge is the main part of the vinyl player which directly impacts the quality of sound. Usually beginners mistake it as the part which runs over the record. In fact, the cartridge houses the stylus/needle inside it. The cartridge has a transducer which converts the mechanical movement of the needle into electrical signals. After that, the signals are sent to the amplifier and eventually to the speaker.
Stylus/Needle
The stylus or needle is the part which attaches to the cartridge and slides within the grooves of the record. As it slides, it sends the vibrations to the cartridge which eventually converts them into electrical signals. The stylus is usually elliptical or spherical. It is one of the most used parts of the player and wears out quickly requiring frequent replacement. Using a worn out needle can deteriorate the sound quality.
10. Strobe Light / Stylus Illuminator / Cueing lamp
The main purpose of strobe light is to provide help in dim light to cue the needle. Often helpful to DJs who play in dark to dimly lit rooms. This is often one of the least used features.
11. Center Spindle
The center spindle is the protruding part in the center of the platter. It is used to hold the record while playing and prevents it from slipping.
12. Start/Stop
The button which starts and stops the platter from rotating.
13. Speed selector
The speed selector determines the speed of the rotation of the platter in revolutions per minute. It is usually 33 rpm or 45 rpm and sometimes 78 rpm. Usually, 7 inch records play at 45 rpm and 12 inch ones at 33 ⅓ rpm
14. 7 inch / 45 rpm adaptor
This part is used when playing 7 inch or 45 rpm records. It needs to be placed on the spindle as the hole in the record is larger than the spindle.
15. Power On/Off
Power switch to turn on/off the player.
Hope you have enjoyed reading the blog post about the various components of the vinyl player. In the next blog post, I’ll talk about the various types of Vinyl Records.
