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Why does your turntable sound the way it does.

Ok, we all seem to agree that turntables sound different, and there are any number of upgrades to a basic turntable that are offered, up to and over $100k. But what is it that causes a turntable to sound the way it does. After all, isnt the basic principal that the table causes the groove undulations to pass by the stylus at a certain speed, thereby creating the sound we hear. If that's true, then only something that affects that point of interaction should have an effect on sound. Forget of course, differences in cartridge, tonearm, wire or preamp. Just think of the turntable itself.
Now, we hear that idler drives are more impactful than belt drives, belt drives are quieter and release more inner detail, direct drives maintain speed and tempo better, aluminum platters sound different than acrylic or glass or MDF. Platter mats can change the sound considerably. different bearing materials and precision in manufacture can change the sound. but why?
Is there a basic sound to be acheived when everything is perfect, and what we are hearing is actually a distortion of that sound based on resonance or time or torque or vibration or whatever. Is there a means of measuring what a cartridge can do in a perfectly set up system where there is no influence on the stylus/vinyl interface and the cartridge is free to follow the groove undulations without exterior influence. Is this perfect environment found in the cutting head, or is it also subject to the same influences as the playback stylus. And if so, how can we ever account for that effect in our playback systems.

So, fellow Audiogoners, what do you think has the greatest effect on vinyl playback as far as only the turntable itself, and what do you think can be done to ammeliorate those effects.
manitunc
manitunc OP
795 posts
 
Music is a quite different thing than most sciences, since there is such a strong emotional component, which is different in each person, so pure accuracy isnt necessarily musical. think of a computer playing notes. Might be the right notes, but not the emotion or inflection.
However, in our playback systems, we want to hear what it is the artist was trying to convey, as if we were there, or I assume we do. So accuracy is important.

By the way, I just listened to a prerecorded 7.5ips R2R tape of Beatles Abbey Road over headphones from a Teac X1000r. Sound was excellent, with strong drive and pace. Now need to hook it up to the main system and compare to the vinyl version.
tonywinsc
583 posts
 
It's a hobby. All of us here love music. Many of us here love the pursuit of perfection. It is the art and science of music reproduction. Key word there is reproduction- not the original. A lot of complex steps and infinite variables from the musician to our living rooms. This hobby is never boring; frustrating yes, but never boring. I also find it interesting that some music sounds better- at least I like it better in my living room than the actual live event. And sometimes it is worse. I have always enjoyed the sound of the lone or dual musicians on the street corner- personal and natural. That is the sound at home that I have strived for.
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
"But what is it that causes a turntable to sound the way it does"

Spend time studying the parts you can't see. Too many people buy a car and don't lift up the hood to look inside. This is a business like everything else. When money is put into a TT alot goes into making it look good - or it won't sell. Lift up the hood, see if the internal quality matches what is on the outside.

Manitunc - As much as you may have liked the sound of 7.5ips 4 track. 15 IPS 2 track is another world.

Cheers
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Sometimes I hire a retired medicine man for a dance around my table. After 30min of howling and dancing he leaves, I am ready for a critical listening and I think, it sounds better.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,047 posts
 
Manitunc: Makes no sense to me ask for differences between the analog R2R master tapes to compare with the LP version and makes no sense to me because are two way different sources with almost no relationship in between.

In the R2R the signal is " free " of the de-emphasis RIAA eq and does not have neither the inverse RIAA eq.. Both equalization process makes a huge signal degradation.

IMHO the answer or answers that you are looking for are not on that " land " but on the TT it self.

Now, IMHO if some one could have the " perfect " answer to you I think that that person could have in his hands a gold mine and I don't think he can even think on share with you only because you ask it and want to build a TT.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
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