• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Why does the actual turntable even matter?

techkiller80

techkiller80

Member
I mean if the audio quality is just in the cartridge/head theoretically couldnt you take a POS table and just upgrade the cartridge to make it amazing? I do understand there is also build quality and motor etc but I guess what i'm saying is you can make any low end but decent table sound amazing right?
 
Register to hide this ad
Oh dear God! You know not what you ask!
You need to read this thread-
Cart the least important in vinyl replay chain, well according to Linn..
Then you'll understand the nature of your question. It could get ugly here.
 
ctjetta said:
Oh dear God! You know not what you ask!
You need to read this thread-
Cart the least important in vinyl replay chain, well according to Linn..
Then you'll understand the nature of your question. It could get ugly here.
Click to expand...
Is there a link to that thread?
 
When I was a kid I wanted a nice turntable.
My Dad told me I should put my record on a pencil, spin it, stick my tongue in the groove and sing. :)
 
Several reasons. Rumble, speed stability as well as vibration rejection and stability. The arm assembly has a very large contribution to the cartridge and table as well. It is truly a symphony of the correct and properly matched components. Not saying you can't build a GOOD sounding rig around a mid range table, but starting with a POS will probably be a total waste of time and effort.
 
tk80: Well, within resonable limits, yes. For example, personally I wouldn't hesitate to put something in the class of an AT33PTG/II on my modest Thorens TD280II, if I'd feel like it, 'cause that would still seem justifiable - but I certainly wouldn't spend several thousand Euros on a cartridge for that Thorens model. So in my view there's a difference between sensible "maxing out" and senseless overkill.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
techkiller80 said:
I do i'm still finding my way around this forum as i just joined yesterday. So I appreciate the patience while i work on getting familar with the site.
Click to expand...

No sweat. Just found it ironic. Regardless welcome to AK. I have a linear tracking Akai deck that sounds great, has required zero maintenance and is a real pleasure to use. Not exactly the same as what your looking at but I am a big fan of most items from that era with the Akai logo.
 
MRL_Audio said:
No sweat. Just found it ironic. Regardless welcome to AK. I have a linear tracking Akai deck that sounds great, has required zero maintenance and is a real pleasure to use. Not exactly the same as what your looking at but I am a big fan of most items from that era with the Akai logo.
Click to expand...
That's cool to finally find somebody else that has an Akai deck....your the first one to respond that has some experience with one of these decks. So as far as the components that Akai used during that period, it sounds like the build quality was pretty good.
 
MRL_Audio said:
No sweat. Just found it ironic. Regardless welcome to AK. I have a linear tracking Akai deck that sounds great, has required zero maintenance and is a real pleasure to use. Not exactly the same as what your looking at but I am a big fan of most items from that era with the Akai logo.
Click to expand...
There was another post a while back that more than a few agreed with the original poster that Akai was very under-rated because they were a much smaller manufacturer.
 
You can get excellent results from “average” turntables in my humble opinion.

I have swapped a Sumiko Bluepoint 2 between an “Average” Realistic Lab 400 and what’s IMO considered a “better than average” Sony PS X7.

I heard no difference.

Not scientific by any stretch and I’m probably not the most discerning listener, but at this point in my audio journey, it’s all about the cart & stylus.

To me the fun is exploring with different carts, just beware, once the Genie’s out it won’t easily be persuaded to return to the lantern.

:beatnik:
 
I had (I think) the same Akai turntable that @techkiller80 posted in another thread. Bought as part of a low-budget Akai system that I brought with me to college. I kept that table for several years, even after I upgraded the rest of the system. I wouldn't discount that table just yet, especially if you are new to turntables and records (I say this as you also have posts on moving to a different table already). I'd start with the Akai, figure out what you like (and don't like) about it and playing records in general first. I know the temptation is there to upgrade right off the bat (as I did this when I got back into turntables several years ago), but doing so blindly gets expensive.

Take some time, get this figured out a bit, listen to the good advice you will get on this forum, then decide whether it is right for you to move up the food chain based on your true needs/wants. An advantage to this approach is that it gives you time to really think through what you want and save up for more than a series of mildly incremental "upgrades".
 
mprince said:
I had (I think) the same Akai turntable that @techkiller80 posted in another thread. Bought as part of a low-budget Akai system that I brought with me to college. I kept that table for several years, even after I upgraded the rest of the system. I wouldn't discount that table just yet, especially if you are new to turntables and records (I say this as you also have posts on moving to a different table already). I'd start with the Akai, figure out what you like (and don't like) about it and playing records in general first. I know the temptation is there to upgrade right off the bat (as I did this when I got back into turntables several years ago), but doing so blindly gets expensive.

Take some time, get this figured out a bit, listen to the good advice you will get on this forum, then decide whether it is right for you to move up the food chain based on your true needs/wants. An advantage to this approach is that it gives you time to really think through what you want and save up for more than a series of mildly incremental "upgrades".
Click to expand...
Thanks Mprince.....can you recommend a receiver or amp with phono input? I think it's an amp or receiver i will be needing right? I already have some good speakers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom