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How can a turntable influence the sound quality?

randomuser01 said:
Seems to be the case sadly I have almost 0 experience of my own and with the amount of people I saw that were saying similar things I doubted that they were all lying or just wrong. So I wanted to better my understanding of what they meant.
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Cool....

Think of the vibration caused by an electrical motor mounted on the inside of the turntable frame, then think about the platter bearing causing even more vibration. Then think of how all that vibration causes the tone arm to vibrate and influence the signal (music to noise ratio) the cartridge is sending to an amp. Isolation of vibration doesn’t happen on cheaper turntables....then add a cork turntable mat to the cheap turntable and notice a difference in sound due to less vibration influencing the tonearm and cartridge.

Sorry about the dig....my bag !!!
 
randomuser01 said:
I remember seeing some record stores around where I live never went inside though doesn't seem like a bad idea
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Have any radio stations nearby? See if you can talk to the chief engineer. They can be super grumpy (to the point of being amusing) and they usually have a bunch of old stuff around that nobody cares about anymore. I made an appointment with one about 10 years ago, and I left with a trunkful of old gear that nobody else seemed to give two craps about. He said he couldn't sell it to me, but he would give it to me. Some kind of rule...I didn't ask. It was a college radio station, so I just made a donation to the school.
 
randomuser01 said:
hmm that kinda makes sense I usually just think of a turntable as just the platter.
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IMHO as far as the sound performance of the actual turntable components aside from arm and cartridge, the platter holds the biggest change.

Lets say as you do, the two tables are similar in spec performance and we can use the same arm and cartridge on both. One table has a 1lb cast pot aluminum platter with a rubber mat, the other has a 15lb multi composite platter made of billet aluminum and lead with a bonded acrylic mat. The 1 lb platter and record can resinate sound that the cartridge picks up through the record and is added to the music. It might sound bright and ringing.

The 15 lb multi composite doesn't resonate at all, in fact it helps control resonance in the record also. The playback of this records can sound more accurate, with balanced tone eliminating the resonance.

I would say the Arm mounting surface, arm board, would be next on the list of sound change, again it will have to do with controlling resonance. You have to think of the cartridge as a microphone, it picks up everything as far as noise and music. We only want the music in the grooves of the record and nothing else.

randomuser01 said:
Don't know what you mean exactly. Also not sure what the problem is if you want me to answer a question you can ask me. As for as I know I replied to almost everyone but I might have missed some here and there
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You might have replied to a lot of post with questions, but when asked questions you didn't provide answers. It's a two way street, you what to pick the site for info or play in our yard, we what to pick you with info as to who you are and what your using.:cool:
 
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Slick Willie said:
I may be wrong, but I don't see this OP as trolling. I know that the concept of how a table affects sound can be confusing at best....even with some exposure.
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I could be wrong about the op but usually someone with questions genuinely looking for answers is willing to answer questions, maybe it’s just the way the youth communicate these days , or lack of communication rather.

Audiofreak71
 
randomuser01 said:
Don't know what you mean exactly. Also not sure what the problem is if you want me to answer a question you can ask me. As for as I know I replied to almost everyone but I might have missed some here and there
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I asked you and this will be the 3rd time btw that this question has been asked , DO YOU OWN A TURNTABLE? Doesn’t get more clear than that .

Audiofreak71
 
Audiofreak71 said:
I could be wrong about the op but usually someone with questions genuinely looking for answers is willing to answer questions, maybe it’s just the way the youth communicate these days , or lack of communication rather.

Audiofreak71
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Don't know if the OP is or not, but I find often times millennials respond well to google like responses as they present their questions as if they were googleing.
 
Djcoolray said:
Miss interpretation.....

Not more bass....more soundstage. The ability to hear more detailed tones....depending on your hearing.
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Djcoolray said:
Soundstage not Bass...

When the noise that is interfering with signal (music) is reduced.....try putting a cork turntable mat on any cheap turntable and you will hear a difference.
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In my experience bass can be affected by turntable characteristics. Often as I improve isolation, bass response also improves-- reaching lower and becoming better defined.

Tracking affects bass as well, mostly through the arm and cart of course; but several turntable aspects can affect it too.

The more information that the stylus can extract from the groove, the better the entire audio response becomes.
 
Slick Willie said:
Don't know if the OP is or not, but I find often times millennials respond well to google like responses as they present their questions as if they were googleing.
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Ah ok , makes sense. I’m from the being straight forward camp so sometimes I don’t get the young kids , including my own sometimes . Guess we can all learn from each other .

Audiofreak71
 
Hifiler said:
In my experience bass can be affected by turntable characteristics. Often as I improve isolation, bass response also improves-- reaching lower and becoming better defined.

Tracking affects bass as well, mostly through the arm and cart of course; but several turntable aspects can affect it too.

The more information that the stylus can extract from the groove, the better the entire audio response becomes.
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With the increase of soundstage as part of increased soundstage all tonal qualities increase. Instead of the chimes having a singular high sharp tone.....multiple tones high to low are heard.
 
randomuser01 said:
Thanks for explaining nothing and using abstract concepts that have nothing to do with my question ! I was hoping someone could actually explain this to me with some specs or papers to back up what they are saying. Hope you have a nice day![/
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Slick Willie said:
If you decide to get a table...may the lord have mercy on you as you filter through the different design philosophies of the plinth/arm/platter/drive system!
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Not to mention the learning curve of setting up a cartridge for best performance...
 
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Hello all
I've been entertained by folks here, and like most opinions, everbody's got one, two, perhaps three. Everything has been touched on from platters to cartridges, plinths and arms. IMO, a good turntable consists of a great motor, a well balanced arm, a cartridge that sounds good to the buyer (please note that everyone hears differently) but we all know the sound we are trying to achieve in our homes.
You can have the best cartridge money can buy, but without a coordinated tone arm, garbage sound will be garbage sound. We won't even mention the sress and strain on your wallet and your poor speakers, remember they too are a part of the chain.

A good turntable will be designed to de-couple the mechanics of the stylus tracing the groove, at which point a mention of a platter mat will make a difference, but dont forget with the thickness of the mat, the arm height has to be compensated so that the tracking angle of the stylus will be correct.

Back to the platter. Yes, a heavier platter will help with constant rotation, however, a damped platter will not ring or add coloration to the sound.

Your cartridge and arm combination, should work as a team, but many, will search for a brand they like, instead of doing a little investigative work, then wonder why it doesnt give the spectrum of sound they hoped for. Will your receiver or amplifier accomodate
The needs of the cartridge? How much should you spend on your cartridge? That question is between you and your wallet. Ive always gone by the rule of what is the price of a replacement stylus, it should be half the price of the new cartride/stylus package.
Back to the table itself, whats best for you, the more intricate the table the more dollars to spend. Belt and direct drive are the most popular, Suspended arm and platter, rubber isolated plinth. Ask friends that have great systems, talk to people have an interest in audio and for heavens sake READ!

Thank you for reading
 
All this is can be summarized, including the room walls construction and orientation, to wavelenght and how we manipulated them.
AG.
 
Grenadeslio said:
See this, same question different thread,

audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/why-are-the-older-idler-wheel-turntables-so-highly-regarded.867827/page-5#post-12684881
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Link isn’t working but I’m assuming the op has asked the same question on another thread ?

Audiofreak71
 
Audiohound said:
Hello all
I've been entertained by folks here, and like most opinions, everbody's got one, two, perhaps three. Everything has been touched on from platters to cartridges, plinths and arms. IMO, a good turntable consists of a great motor, a well balanced arm, a cartridge that sounds good to the buyer (please note that everyone hears differently) but we all know the sound we are trying to achieve in our homes.
You can have the best cartridge money can buy, but without a coordinated tone arm, garbage sound will be garbage sound. We won't even mention the sress and strain on your wallet and your poor speakers, remember they too are a part of the chain.

A good turntable will be designed to de-couple the mechanics of the stylus tracing the groove, at which point a mention of a platter mat will make a difference, but dont forget with the thickness of the mat, the arm height has to be compensated so that the tracking angle of the stylus will be correct.

Back to the platter. Yes, a heavier platter will help with constant rotation, however, a damped platter will not ring or add coloration to the sound.

Your cartridge and arm combination, should work as a team, but many, will search for a brand they like, instead of doing a little investigative work, then wonder why it doesnt give the spectrum of sound they hoped for. Will your receiver or amplifier accomodate
The needs of the cartridge? How much should you spend on your cartridge? That question is between you and your wallet. Ive always gone by the rule of what is the price of a replacement stylus, it should be half the price of the new cartride/stylus package.
Back to the table itself, whats best for you, the more intricate the table the more dollars to spend. Belt and direct drive are the most popular, Suspended arm and platter, rubber isolated plinth. Ask friends that have great systems, talk to people have an interest in audio and for heavens sake READ!

Thank you for reading
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The question as I saw it was how two different tables with same carts and supporting gear could sound different....and why.
Your post is perhaps too involved?
 
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