Home » Audio » Source » What is the most important part of record playing?
What is the most important part of record playing? [message #94334] Tue, 31 August 2021 14:09 Go to next message
smartt is currently offline  smartt
Messages: 155
Registered: March 2020
Master
They all matter. But pick one. Turntable, tonearm, cartridge, phono preamp.
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #94339 is a reply to message #94334] Tue, 31 August 2021 21:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gofar99 is currently offline  gofar99
Messages: 1895
Registered: May 2010
Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi I consider the turntable, arm and cartridge as a single component and thus not individual parts. You would not ask the same question of a car...engine, tires or steering would you? The three must work together. A premium turntable would not provide great sound with a $10 cartridge. Neither would the reverse do justice to the LP.

Good Listening
Bruce
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #94346 is a reply to message #94339] Wed, 01 September 2021 08:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

So true.
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #94348 is a reply to message #94346] Wed, 01 September 2021 09:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rusty is currently online  Rusty
Messages: 1076
Registered: May 2018
Location: Kansas City Missouri
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
For me the turntable staying out of the music is my requirement. Accurate speed control and freedom from stylus drag affecting the music during solo piano or a complex passage. And feedback getting back into the turntable to the tonearm. A decent cartridge can suffice as can the preamp for me. But when you can hear some speed fluctuation and distortion from feedback. That ruins the musical integrity. It's all make believe, listening to recorded music. Having the playback equipment getting added to the music kills it.
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #94567 is a reply to message #94334] Tue, 05 October 2021 21:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kingfish is currently offline  Kingfish
Messages: 548
Registered: November 2012
Illuminati (1st Degree)
The record.

You can have the best of everything else, but they all come down to the record itself.

As far as the mechanics of it all, I would vote for the turntable.
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #94625 is a reply to message #94567] Fri, 15 October 2021 16:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LCallan is currently offline  LCallan
Messages: 42
Registered: June 2021
Baron
I'm with Kingfish. It's all about the record. You can have a magnificent turntable with all the bells and whistles, but a scratched up record, or poorly created vinyl will still sound horrid. Throw a nice record on a cheapie and you're better off.
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #94626 is a reply to message #94625] Fri, 15 October 2021 16:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Yeah, I agree there too. Source material is at least as important as anything else.
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #95268 is a reply to message #94334] Sun, 20 February 2022 07:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Silver is currently offline  Silver
Messages: 116
Registered: December 2013
Viscount
when I'm bored, the appearance and cleanliness are top priorities. lol

1) Record

2) Needle

3) Tonearm

4 Speaker quality

In that order of course.
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #95272 is a reply to message #94626] Sun, 20 February 2022 16:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gofar99 is currently offline  gofar99
Messages: 1895
Registered: May 2010
Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi A follow on from my earlier post....your ears. They are the final judge on what is important.

Good Listening
Bruce
Re: What is the most important part of record playing? [message #95279 is a reply to message #94334] Mon, 21 February 2022 17:08 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Concorde is currently offline  Concorde
Messages: 149
Registered: December 2013
Master
Now I feel like it was a trick question all along.Laughing The most obvious answers escape us sometimes.

But no, I see questions like this as a way to make sure you remember your priorities when it comes to maintaining your system.

"What IS more important"?
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