Vinyl guide

Your first turntable setup

A record player is really four parts working together. Get each one right and even an entry-level setup sounds warm and detailed.

1. The turntable

It spins the record at a steady speed. Belt-drive decks are quiet and the usual choice for listening at home. Direct-drive decks start instantly and hold speed well, which is why DJs use them. Either is fine for a first setup. Look for one that plays both 33⅓ and 45 RPM.

2. The cartridge and stylus

The stylus (the needle) traces the groove, and the cartridge turns that movement into a tiny electrical signal. Most turntables come with a decent cartridge already fitted. Avoid all-in-one "suitcase" players: their heavy arms and basic styluses wear records faster. A stylus usually needs replacing after roughly 500–1,000 hours of play, or sooner if the sound turns harsh or fuzzy.

3. The phono preamp

The cartridge signal is too quiet for normal speakers, so it needs a phono preamp. Many turntables have one built in, with a switch marked PHONO / LINE. Set it to LINE if you plug into ordinary speakers. If your amplifier has its own PHONO input, use that instead and switch the turntable's preamp off. A built-in preamp is completely fine for a first setup.

4. Speakers

Powered (active) speakers have an amplifier inside, so the turntable plugs straight in: the simplest option. Passive speakers need a separate amplifier, but leave room to upgrade later. Bluetooth works, but a cable sounds better and has no delay.

Setting it up

Put the turntable on a level, solid surface. A cheap bubble level helps.
Keep it away from the speakers, or on a separate surface, so vibration doesn't feed back into the stylus.
If your turntable has an adjustable counterweight, set the tracking force to the figure in the cartridge's manual, and match the anti-skate dial to it.
Close the lid when you're not playing, to keep dust off.

Looking for something to play? Browse our featured records, or search over 76,000 titles from the home page. Questions? WhatsApp 064 545 5785 or email dvinylsza@gmail.com.