Turntable

The turntable – the dearly loved analog sound

The turntable is more popular than ever, and for good reason. Today they sound better than ever before, and it has become incredibly easy to get started with a turntable. At the same time, the turntable has a sound that is more authentic than a digital medium, and the listening experience itself is more like reading a book – you hear the record as the artist intended you to hear it, because you do not "shop" around between albums and skip tracks.

The turntable is a very old and very simple concept, but different techniques and materials can still make a big difference to the sound you hear. That is why turntables are available in every price range, from the simple gramophone to advanced high-end systems. It is up to you to assess your level of enthusiasm, so that together we can find the right turntable for you.

How to get started with a turntable

You can start with a turntable for DKK 3,000 and get a really fine all-round performance, along with easy setup and easy operation. Some expensive turntables depend on you having experience and skill with setup, as they almost come as kits, where you yourself, with a headlamp, a wet newspaper, and a ruler, can make the adjustments. But you can also choose an LP player from one of the manufacturers that has the expertise and equipment to deliver the turntable adjusted exactly as it should be. The days when vinyl players were complicated are over.

READ ALSO: Guide: How to set up your turntable correctly

Why should I buy a turntable?

A good-quality turntable can deliver a sound you rarely hear from sources such as streaming or CD. The turntable has a very characteristic warm and analog sound, and that is why you will often find that your brain relaxes and you get a different and better experience of the music. The turntable is also a faithful and reliable player that does not depend on the internet, a Bluetooth connection, or other black magic beyond our control. The turntable plays when you lower the cartridge onto the record, quite simply.

With a turntable, you can also dive into millions of LPs from back when music was in original master quality and not copied. The fact that LPs are available for modest prices today, and that LPs are still being released, all helps make the turntable a modern and attractive music source.

Finally, there is the concept of focus. Today we can both watch TV and listen to music through all kinds of streaming devices, and yet we do not really “hear” the music. It just plays on in a steady stream, whether we are exercising, cooking, or sleeping. A turntable, on the other hand, demands your attention, and just the fact that you have to find the record and place it on the turntable is often enough to put you into a state of calm and focus that is necessary for getting the full experience of what the musicians wanted to express with the music.

Which turntable should I choose?

You can get a perfectly good turntable for DKK 3,000, just as you can get turntables at absurd prices. Basically, the difference between cheap and expensive turntables should be that the more expensive they are, the more precise, quieter, and better sounding they become. And precision is important when you are dealing with groove movements down to just a few thousandths of a millimeter. There is a free choice between “plug and play” solutions, where the manufacturer has mounted the cartridge, and self-assembly solutions, where it is necessary to know what you are doing when the turntable needs to be set up. Get advice from us before you buy, so you get exactly the right solution for your system and your needs.

What is the difference between an expensive and a cheap turntable?

Typically, it will be a better tonearm, better motor, better platter, and better plinth. Better means less play, less noise, and greater precision, all in order to read the record without affecting the sound with flaws such as distortion and poor speed stability. An expensive turntable is not necessarily better than a cheap one, which is why it is wise to have them demonstrated in the store. Within a brand, however, you may assume that the most expensive one is the best.

A rule of thumb is that the more automation you get for a given price, the worse the sound will be compared with a manual turntable in the same price range.

Affordable turntables

When you buy an affordable turntable from us, you still get a high-quality turntable. Rega's Planar 1 is an excellent example of how good a sound you can get from your LP records. For just under DKK 3,000, you get a turntable where a full 2 years were spent simply developing the cartridge. Even though these are relatively affordable turntables, our brands stand out because there is still great care and attention to detail that you do not find with many other manufacturers. That is why the Planar 1 has been named Product of the Year for 6 consecutive years by What Hi-Fi?

Hi-Fi turntables

Move up to the next price range and you will find a Rega turntable such as the Planar 3, which was named Product of the Year in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. There are also serious Pro-Ject turntables such as the X1, which was named Product of the Year in 2019-2020 by the EISA Awards. If you want an even better reproduction of your LP collection, the Pro-Ject X2 is also an excellent choice of turntable, delivering high performance and build quality.

High-end turntables

In the top league, you will find turntables such as the Mark Levinson No. 5105, Rega Planar 8 and 10, Pro-Ject X8, RPM 9 and RPM 10 Carbon, Avid Diva II, and Volvere SP. These turntables are uncompromising, and that is why they do not have built-in RIAA preamps. They are of such high quality that they require an external RIAA preamp to achieve the best possible result. These turntables can give any CD player and streamer a run for their money when it comes to the ultimate sound reproduction.

What accessories does your turntable need?

There are accessories for the turntable that are both optional and absolutely necessary. Among the optional items, you will find record brushes, record cleaners, and record clamps, which provide a noticeable improvement in sound. Record brushes and record cleaners also extend the life of your cartridge, because they remove dust from the grooves of the LP so that it is not picked up by the fine and very sensitive stylus on the cartridge.

The necessary accessories for the turntable are a RIAA preamp and cartridge, provided that your amplifier or turntable is not already equipped with these.

See our turntable selection

Rega turntables

Pro-Ject turntables

Avid turntables

Mark Levinson turntable

Get advice and guidance at Lydspecialisten

At LYDspecialisten in Aalborg, we always have a large selection of turntables that you can stop by and listen to. Here, you can hear the turntables in great demo facilities, and our specialists are always ready to help you find exactly the right turntable for you. If you need advice, contact us here.