10 Levels of Turntable Mastery


Maybe this will be an intersting thread. Maybe it will be quickly forgotten. Either way, I'd throw it out there for discussion and debate.

Could we, as a collective, define 10 Levels of Turntable Mastery? 1 being a complete novice, 10 being the master turntable guru. Perhaps we even start at 0.

TML 0 - Digital Only
TML 1 - If you own and use a turntable, you qualify for TML 1.
TML 2 - ?
TML 3 - ?
etc.

I figured I'd fall into the 4 to 5 range. I understand the geometry enough to create my own protractors. I can use these protractors to set up tables with variable P-to-S distances. I can arrive at an acceptable starting point for anti-skate. I can set an initial VTA and VTF, but I'm not attune to the minor changes in these values (given my cartridge and associated equipment). I have no idea how to use an oscilloscope to validate and verify an accurate setup.

This isn't about who can buy the most expensive toys. A Walker owner may be a TML 1 while there may be Technics SL-1200 owners that may come in at a TML 8 or 9.

I think this would interesting to define these levels not only to benchmark where one is at as a Turntable Master, but what are the next things to master along the analog journey.

Who want's to take a crack at it? If this thread goes anywhere, I'll periodically summarize the posts into the current TMLs to help foster discussion and debate.
128x128nrenter
Seruiusly, the thing that got me into audio as a kid was watching that little needle follow the grooves on records and being amazed at the fact that sound came out. Its still amazing to me that the sound can be as good as it is given the task at hand.

Digital has it easier though, doesn't it? Al that's involved in good playback is to retrieve all the bits available, and transport them intact to a device that can accurately reproduce the waveform. Its all electronic. No physical rollercoaster rides involved!

You also have to hope that the producer of the digital source material gave you a set of good bits to start with, but that's out of your control as is how well the record is produced. Nowadays, 9 times out of ten, they do at least a decent job of capturing those bits accurately, I find.
Doug, that started to remind me of the old penis joke, where it gets put in a rubber bag and shoved in a dark and wet place then bumped around all over the place until it throws up.

Seriously funny stuff. Maybe someone should make a cartoon for use on the next Fremer DVD.

Enjoy,
Bob