The device is ready to use once the pickup is mounted and the cables are connected. A dedicated volume control can be used to alter the system’s volume. The playback speed can be changed via pitch control. The RPM can be changed from 33/45 to 78.
In This Article...
What is a direct drive turntable and how does it work?
The motor of a direct-drive turntable is situated directly beneath the center of the platter and is directly connected to the platter. It’s a huge improvement over older belt-drive turntables, which are unsuitable for turntablism since they have a lengthy start-up time and are prone to wear-and-tear and breakage due to backspinning or scratching, which causes the belt to snap. A direct-drive turntable does away with belts and instead uses a motor to drive a platter onto which a vinyl record is placed. Scratching is feasible because the motor continues to spin at the correct RPM even if the DJ wiggles the record around on the platter.
Direct-drive turntables, on the other hand, may have motor vibration, which is less of a concern with belt-drive turntables. Shock-absorbing (less dense) material, put between the motor and the platter, has been employed in recent years to reduce vibrations. Direct-drive turntables typically have substantially higher torque than belt-drive ones. This means that the platter speed is less affected by external factors (stylus, hand). Higher torque also means the platter will accelerate to its optimum speed more quickly, resulting in less distortion when the record starts to play.
What are your favorite ways to use ion vintage vinyl?
The addition of a classic LP to your home entertainment system is a pleasant surprise. Simply connect the Classic LP to your audio/video receiver via the RCA outputs and listen to your favorite records once more. Classic LP can easily play all of your vinyl LP albums and 45 singleseven old 78swith warmth and clarity thanks to its fixed-weight tonearm, ceramic cartridge, belt-driven platter, and precision circuitry. Classic LP, on the other hand, accomplishes a great deal more.
To safeguard your records, Classic LP includes a hinged dust cover and a felt slip-mat. The superior piano-black finish on the non-resonant oak base blends perfectly with any dcor.
Is it true that a Victrola will destroy records?
When some people think of a Victrola record player, they may conjure up images of cheap retro-style machines or vintage machines. Whether or not a record player is a decent record player depends on whose model you are referring to.
The Victrola players available for under $100 are of poor quality, and using them risks harming your records over time. However, the older classic Victrolas, as well as the more expensive newer models, are of greater quality and should be able to play your records without difficulty.
When comparing record players, it’s critical to avoid comparing apples to oranges and instead compare similar record players. A cheap Victrola player and a cheap Crosley player will both work roughly the same and have roughly the same build quality.
Because you’re comparing a $60 record player to a $300 record player, the cheap Victrola model will obviously lose out to the more costly Audio-Technica model. There’s an issue if the $300 record player isn’t superior quality!
Simply compare the characteristics of a cheap record player to those of other inexpensive record players, not high-end versions, to ensure that you are accurately evaluating the various possibilities available in the same price range.
Is Crosley a reputable brand?
Crosley is a brand I suggest since it is inexpensive, dependable, and comes with one of the greatest warranties in the business.
Crosley appliances come with a 10-year limited guarantee, which is one of the best in the business. Both labor and parts are covered for the first year of warranty coverage (administrated by either Whirlpool or Frigidaire). Crosley covers years 2-10 solely, covering the cost of parts for their whole line of appliances. This is an impressive warranty period, especially given the low cost of Crosley appliances.
You may feel certain that if you do require Crosley repair, the downtime will be minimal. Replacement parts are readily available in our experience. We usually receive special order parts in three days.
Crosley is an exceptional brand that we frequently suggest. If you’re in the market for a new appliance, Crosley is a great option.
Do Crosley turntables cause records to be damaged?
They can, to some extent. The reason for this is the low-cost styli featured on Crosley players and related entry-level turntables such as Jensen.
The tips are not as well-made as high-end styli, and they have rougher edges, which wear out your records considerably faster than well-made, high-end styli.
To put it another way, the Crosley turntable isn’t causing any problems. It’s the low-cost needles they utilize in their low-cost items.
That means you may easily replace the needle with a better-quality one and you won’t have to worry about this problem any longer. This is something we always advise when purchasing a low-cost turntable.
And replacing the needle on a cheap player is considerably better and easier than creating your own record player, which is even cheaper. Another alternative is to avoid the cheapest Crosleys and instead pick for something like the Crosley Rochester, which includes a diamond-tipped stylus.
Why Cheap Styli Damage Records
The needle, or stylus, is coupled to a cartridge with a magnet inside, which is how record players work. The needle’s movement is read by the magnet, which converts it into a tiny electrical signal that generates sound.
You probably already know that, but I bring it up since the needle is physically touching the record. The record is also comprised of a vinyl compound that wears down somewhat with each play.
The stylus is pressed against the record by the weight of the tonearm and cartridge. The contact and pressure, as well as the rotation of the record, all contribute up to the record becoming worn down.
The stylus that is used, the weight of the tonearm and the cartridge, and how rapidly the record is moving all influence how much the record is worn down each time it is played.
Do All Needles Damage Records?
Yes. Every time a needle makes contact with a record, a small portion of the record is rubbed off. With repeated plays, even the most costly needles on the greatest turntables on the market inflict some harm.
This is the unavoidable disadvantage of vinyl. Records, unlike CDs, are analog and require interaction with other parts to produce sound.
CDs are just data recorded as zeros and ones within a piece of plastic that is read by a laser and then converted into audio.
Theoretically, CDs will never wear out. The data on them will last indefinitely, or until the plastic deteriorates, if you never scratch them.
Which Needles Do The Least And Most Damage To Records?
The better the stylus, the less wear on your recordings it will create. Styli come in a variety of shapes, each of which makes contact with the record in a unique way, resulting in varying levels of wear.
- Elliptical: somewhat more pointed than spherical, touching less of the vinyl’s surface area.
- Hyper-elliptical stylus: more pointed than elliptical stylus, it hits both the left and right sides of the groove.
- Due to the increased surface area it is contacting, the Micro-ridge is very sharp, sits right in the groove, and has the best tracking and sound.
There hasn’t been a 20-year study done on any of this to back up anything I’m going to say, so be aware that a lot of what I’m about to say is based on our personal experience and the opinions of others.
Micro-Ridge Styli Sound Best But Cause The Most Wear
A micro-ridge stylus sits deep in the groove, with the needle’s tip touching the groove’s bottom. This results in better tracking and fidelity.
However, with time, it creates greater wear. The needle’s tip digs a little further into the record, widening the groove since the stylus’ edges entirely meet the groove’s edges. The needle eventually slides over the record.
Spherical Needles Do The Least Damage But Sound The Worst
Although there are several exceptions to this trend, the way a spherical needle meets the record impacts less surface area than any of the other shapes. Because there is less contact, there is less fidelity and wear.
Of course, there are high-end spherical styli that are ultra-polished and well-made and sound amazing, just as there are low-cost micro-ridges that sound terrible. When it comes to styli and their level of record wear and sound quality, it’s all about degrees and nuance.
How Long Can Records Last If The Needle Wears Them Out Constantly?
You may play your records hundreds of times with very little audible loss of quality if you set up your equipment properly and take adequate care of them. However, the inverse is also true.
After only a few spins, an incorrectly positioned turntable with a cheap stylus (such as a Crosley) may begin to lose fidelity (depending on the stylus).
As far as we know, this has not been investigated in a laboratory. The majority of the content is made up of personal experiences and thoughts.
But, once you comprehend how a record player works and realize that sound is created by physically contacting the grooves with a little needle, everything makes sense.
Part One
If you have a valuable record collection that you paid a lot of money for and you value your recordings, you should be concerned about this.
However, the better you look after your records and the equipment you use to play them (especially the stylus), the less you have to worry about this, because there is nothing you can do to reduce wear.
One piece of advice I give folks is to have one copy of the record that is a little worn out and utilize it as your most frequently played copy. Keep your superior copy for special events only.
Part Two
You don’t have to worry about this if you’re buying records that aren’t too expensive, aren’t attempting to keep them spotless, and have the money to buy new if they get worn out quickly.
Just bear in mind that using a low-cost turntable with a low-cost stylus, such as a Crosley, will shorten the life of your records in half, if not more. They can start to sound bad after only a handful of plays.
Even versions that are a step above from the cheapest feature low-quality stylii. For an example, see our assessment of the Crosley Nomad. The stylus has improved, but it is still far from perfect.
What causes the needle on a record player to skip?
When you notice skipping while listening to a record, it could be due to a few different things. You can protect the record and improve the sound quality by taking steps to address the common causes of skipping.
Dust and Dirt
Dust and grime getting into the grooves is a typical cause of records skipping. It can happen on old records owing to storage, paper sleeves, or environmental dust, but it can also happen on new recordings. Sound quality is also affected by other elements relating to hygiene, such as oil from your hands or other causes.
To avoid skipping, dust or dirt should be removed from the record before playing it. In other circumstances, more advanced cleaning processes may be required to eliminate the filth.
Damage to the Record
Damage to the record is sometimes the cause. If your record is scratched or damaged, it’s conceivable that you won’t be able to fix the underlying issue. A scratch indicates that the vinyl has been damaged, and the music may skip as a result.
The Balance to the Arm or Stylus Cartridge
While dirt or dust on the record is the most likely cause, you could also have a balance issue. You may need to improve the balance of the arm or the stylus cartridge if it is not balanced properly. The technique of re-balancing your arm or cartridge may differ depending on the record player you own. You want to evaluate the specific player before determining your options.
Troubleshooting the Problems
Because dirt and cleanliness are the most typical causes of skipping, start by cleaning the record. Wipe the record down carefully in a circular motion with a lint-free soft cloth. After dusting, try playing the record. In other circumstances, the dirt is on the record’s exterior, and a simple dusting will stop the skipping.
If the skipping persists, clean the records with a record cleaning agent and a soft cloth or a record cleaning brush. Cleaning products may come with a variety of directions; follow any instructions provided by the product. Typically, you apply the lotion and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out with purified water. You may also use the brush to clean the record of dirt and dust. When using any liquid on your records, take careful not to get the label wet. Before playing your record again, let it dry completely.
After you’ve cleaned the record, the skipping will usually stop. If the problem remains, examine the record with a magnifying lens. Use a record cleaning brush or a similar tool to remove any dirt that has become caught in the groove of the record. If the brush does not remove the object or dirt, you may need to use a toothpick or another comparable tool.
The setup of your record player is the final complexity. Check the balance of your cartridge if cleaning doesn’t work and you can’t discover any dirt lodged in the record. If the default setting for your player isn’t right, balance the cartridge according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Any lingering issues should be resolved by rebalancing the arm or stylus cartridge.
Although skipping indicates an issue with your vinyl records, it is not always indicative of harm. Adjust the balance on your record player or clean the record to eliminate dust and dirt to solve the problem.
Is it better to have a direct drive or a belt drive?
After 20 years of using a direct drive washing machine, my wife and I decided to upgrade to a belt-drive machine a few years ago. So far, we’ve been really pleased with our purchase, so I thought I’d share our results with you so you can make an informed decision.
Washing machines with direct drive outperform belt-drive washers. They also lack the belts and other components that typically wear out and break on belt-drive washers. Direct-drive washers are also quieter, more dependable, more energy-efficient than belt-drive washers.