Finding the Best Fit
In order to find the best fit turntable, there are a few different aspects one must take into account such as:
- Price
- Ease of operation
- Portability
Price is a large factor for a lot of people, especially those just getting into the hobby or looking for their first record player. So make sure to have a budget for all the parts of your record player.
Ease of operation is another big factor to consider. There are automatic and manual turntables. The automatic will move the tone arm and drop the needle for you but also runs the risk of a malfunction that could damage your records. The manual turntable has the user move the tone arm over by hand and drop the needle; this method is severely less likely to malfunction but if someone is unsure of the correct technique then they could potentially scratch the record with the needle. On top of the tone arm and needle, getting a record player that has the correct buttons such as different speeds and an eject button can be useful when playing either different size records or stopping a record safely before finishing.
Portability is another factor to consider when looking to purchase because if you plan to move with your player often, getting a turntable with built-in aspects like an amplifier can save you a lot of space and weight when moving your record player.
