Turntable Components - What does What?
There are a number of common parts shared between many different models of turntables, so here’s a brief guide on what you may see on your chosen model of turntable.
Dust Cover - Usually made of perspex, the dust cover helps keep dust away from the record and the turntable components. It also helps minimise audible chatter from the stylus, too.
Counterweight - A large number of turntables employ a weight at the back of the tonearm, helping to ensure the correct balance is achieved for correct tracking and minimal record wear, whereas other are pre-set at the factory instead.
Anti-Skate Control - This allows users to apply a small outward force to counteract the natural inward glide the tonearm will want to follow, ensuring the stylus tracks the grooves correctly.
Tonearm Lift Lever - This lever can lift and lower the tonearm, and is a great option if you aren’t confident lowering the tonearm manually onto the record.
Tonearm - The tonearm relays the audio signal from the cartridge to the output of the turntable.
Pitch Control* - Not a common feature, but can be found on semi-professional models upwards; this slider makes small adjustments to playback speeds, ideal for when mixing records together.
Headshell - This holds the cartridge in place at the end of the tonearm. Some headshells are interchangeable, proving ideal if you often swap between headshells with different cartridges.
Stylus & Cartridge - The stylus (also known as the needle) sits in the record grooves to read the music’s information. Detected vibrations are converted into an electrical signal by the cartridge.
Target Light* - Found on many semi-professional decks and above, this small light allows users to the locate track start and end points on a record; ideal for dark rooms when hosting DJ sets.
Platter - This round plate attaches to the turntable’s drive system to spin your record.
Speed Selector - Allows users to swap between playback speeds on most turntables. Brands such as Rega use a manual speed change by swapping drive belt positions on the motor pulley.
Strobe Speed Indicator*- A small light shines onto the raised dots of the platter. The dots will appear stationary if the turntable is maintaining the correct playback speed.
Slipmat - Either made of rubber, cork or felt, the slipmat provides a soft surface between the record and the platter. It also provides traction so that the record doesn’t slip during playback.
Plinth - A plinth is the base that holds all parts of the turntable together.
Singles Adaptor - This small device allows 7” 45-RPM with larger centre apertures - such as ex-jukebox records - to play on your turntable as normal.
Spindle - The spindle centralises the record on the platter, securing it into place for playback.