After falling out in the late 80s, vinyl has come back, and this time, among young listeners. However, to have a good listening experience, you need to have a turntable setup. Setting your turntable setup is a very simple process.
To create a perfect turntable setup, you will need several supplies, such as a preamp, turntable, speakers, and amplifier. Luckily, if you already have the equipment, you will not have to buy new ones, which will significantly save you some cash.
So, what do you need for a turntable setup? Let’s see!
1. A Turntable
One of the things you will need for a perfect turntable setup is a turntable. There are two types of turntables: belt-drive turntables and direct-drive turntables. One common thing about the two is that they have their proponents.
Belt-drive turntables are driven by a rubber belt and are powered by an independent motor. They have less advanced technology but produce better sound quality because they do not produce much vibration and noise.
Direct-drive turntables are said to be more assertive with more substantial torque and run from an integral motor. They are best at Djing.
2. Turntable Mat
A turntable mat is also an essential accessory. It will protect your vinyl, dampen vibration, reduce friction and improve the sound. They also make your turntable look nice. Cork and rubber make the best turntable mats, as they come in different sizes and weights.
3. Cartridges
Most turntables come with pre-fitted cartridges, although that is not always the case. If you choose a pre-fitted cartridge, you will need to get a compatible cartridge in case you want to alternate.
Some cartridges are headshell mounted, while others are plugged into the tonearm. Though a removable headshell is better for upgrades and easy maintenance, and you can mount different cartridges.
4. A preamp
A preamp is another essential accessory for a turntable setup. However, the preamp is needed when a turntable does not have an inbuilt phono preamp. Otherwise, most turntables come with an inbuilt phono preamp. A preamp and a phono preamp work the same.
A turntable’s output is the phono signal which must be converted into an aux signal or line level so your speaker can produce the sound.
5. Speakers
Another accessory needed for a turntable setup is a speaker system. In this case, you need quality speakers. When choosing a turntable speaker, it’s important to consider its size and the size of the room where you will keep your turntable setup.
You can either use floor-standing speakers or small speakers, but this depends on the size of your space.
Which Turntable is Best for Beginners?
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo is the best one for beginners. It is easy to set up, has the best sound, and has excellent quality.
What is the Most Important Component of a Turntable?
A cartridge is an essential component of a turntable as it helps improve its sound. More improved cartridges will get extra sound from the vinyl.
It will also extract more noise from the turntable motor and take it to the tonearm, and then the signal will be altered by the outside movements.
Can You Use a Turntable With Just Speakers?
Yes, you can, If your turntable got an inbuilt preamp, it would be easy to set your turntable. All you need to do is join the turntable to your speaker’s Bluetooth by plugging the output side of the RCA into the turntable and the side of your cable with 3.5mm into the Bluetooth speaker.
How Do I Know If I Need an Amplifier?
Some signs show your speaker needs a new amplifier. For instance, if your speaker system is not loud enough, the audio fidelity dips when you are using headphones, and when the quality of the sound suffers when you are playing music directly from your computer.
What Kind of Amplifier Do I Need for a Turntable?
If you have a turntable and a preamp, you will need an amplifier to connect them to the preamplifier so you can boost the signal to a line-level sign. You can use an A/V receiver, powered speakers with an inbuilt amplifier, or a separate amplifier.
What’s the Difference Between a Turntable and a Record Player?
A turntable is part of a record player and has a platter that holds the record while playing. A turntable does not have speakers or amplifiers or an inbuilt preamp. However, the record player has all the above.
Wrapping Up
Turntables will always have a place in the music industry as they give the best music experience. So, if you have your turntable, a preamp, a speaker, or cartridges, you have all you need to set up your turntable.
