The record player: sound quality and popular models.

In the seventies vinyl records were the only bearer of musical records. Today their place is occupied by digital audio recording technologies. But until now, true music fans have a record player in their home, preferring to listen to vinyl. The sound quality in this case far exceeds the digital counterparts.

What is a record player vinyl records

Another common name for it is a turntable. This is a sound-producing analog device that reads a sound recorded on a vinyl record. The main components of the vinyl player since its first release have changed little: a table, a tonearm, a pickup head and a vinyl disc or LP. Their interaction with each other and determine the sound quality of the speaker system.

The pickup converts mechanical information from the disc to an electrical signal amplified by other components of the audio system. The driving mechanism, which has a turntable for the plates, ensures that the plate rotates at a certain speed.

Sound quality

The vinyl record differs from modern music carriers in that the recording on it is analogue, corresponding to the original sound. This is achieved thanks to the tracks cut by the special machine on the surface of the plate.

The music reproduced from the vinyl plate does not distort the melody, has a pronounced harmony and a certain saturation, in contrast to the digitized sound with its more limited resolution and the addition of quantization noise.

Until now, many well-known performers record their works in both digital and analog formats.

Today it is rather difficult to find a good and affordable record player for records. Despite the fact that such equipment is still produced and modernized, many music lovers consider the best technique created at the end of the last century.

The best players of the past years

The main drawback of the equipment produced in the Soviet years, was "zapilivanie" disks. But by 1980, after the whole mechanism was bought in Poland, this problem was solved.

Of the slightly corrected Polish unit "Unita", dressed in the Soviet wooden case, turned out a domestic record player "Vega-106". A serious minus of it was the need to move around the apartment on tiptoe, as an incautious step could lead to a jump in the needle. Today "Vega" finds a second life, delighting its sound retro-music lovers. The demand for these turntables is still huge.

For the years of operation of the enterprise that produced them, each new model had a higher quality of reproduction, improved design and additional functions. It was the most popular record player in its time.

By the end of the eighties the USSR began to produce more advanced turntables called "Electronics." Players equipped with good mechanics were very close to the world standards.

Popular modern players

Among the relatively inexpensive devices with a decent sound is the Denon DP-300F. The main disk is made of metal, its speed can be adjusted with the button located on the body. The built-in MM phono stage has a shutdown function. The reproduced sound is voluminous, with rather dense bass.

The record player Rega RP1 is equipped with a proprietary tonearm with adjustable clamping force. The main disk is cast, made of plastic. The nature of the sound is soft, melodic.

Made in a lightweight plastic case, the Sherwood PM-9906 has a USB port for digitizing the reproduced signal and recording it to an external storage device. Moving, light sound makes this device more suitable for rhythmic dance music, when the actual supply of material is relevant.

Slightly more expensive among the devices of this series - TDK USB Belt Drive Turntable, the body of which is made of black acrylic and has an aluminum frame. The legs are damped with soft rubber inserts. The player is equipped with a self-monitoring system speed.

What to look for when choosing

A wide range and variety of models, equipped with all sorts of options, somewhat complicates the process of choosing a good player. A very important factor is the location of the engine. It is better to give preference to apparatuses in which it is located outside the hull.

Attention is paid to the material from which the base is made. Usually it is devoid of a resonating effect of acrylic, plastic or MDF. The pickup head has its own design features. Over time, it rolls around and loses its shape. To get high-quality sound, you should not save on purchasing a new head.

A great influence on the sound is provided by the needle for the record player. Spherical needles poorly track the modulation of the groove and can lead to deformation of the plate at the point where the music record is of a higher level. Their production is not difficult, and they are inexpensive. Significantly less distortion is to be expected from elliptical needles, the price of which is slightly higher.

When buying a player, you should make sure that it is complete, which must necessarily include a spare head with a new needle.

Rules of operation

Even the oldest record player will serve as faith and truth for a long time if it is carefully maintained. The device is installed on a flat surface, eliminating any vibration. The block with an external motor is recommended to be placed on a separate shelf, and the cable that is lowered down should not touch the player. In order to get the perfect sound, you'll need a competent tuning, which is always performed when the vinyl disk is installed.