Beginner’s Guide to Vinyl Playback: Turntables, Cartridges, and Setup

Vinyl records are not just a nostalgic fad; they are a gateway to warmer, fuller listening. For the longtime filehead curious about venturing into analog, or even the newcomer to high fidelity for whom MP3s are the standard, the world of vinyl playback provides a singular musical thrill.

In this guide for beginners, we’ll take you through the three cornerstones of a good vinyl setup: turntables, cartridge, and the setup. We’ll also pass along gear recommendations that Elusive Disc offers to make sure you confidently venture into vinyl.

Why Choose Vinyl?

Vinyl fosters the ritual of listening to music. You interact with the music, turning sides, carefully cueing up tracks, loving the cover art. The process creates dynamic range and warmth, and is something that holds a conventionally analog vinyl buyer engaged and sonically attuned to inspect the soul of the original recording.

But to truly appreciate that sound, you need to have your gear and setup dialed in.

Step 1: Picking the Right Turntable

Your turntable is the heart in the center of your analog system. It’s what turns the record and holds the tonearm and cartridge. When you shop for a turntable, keep the following in mind:

Manual vs. Automatic

• Manual turntables (such as the Music Hall US-1) demand that you place the tonearm and lift it yourself.
• Automatic turntables (i.e., the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT). We cue and return the tonearm at the press of a button, which is ideal for ease of use.

Belt Drive vs. Direct Drive

• It was thought that a belt-driven turntable is a type of vibration isolation that tends to be better because it puts the general platter spin times on the belt.
• Direct-drive designs such as the Music Hall Stealth provide more consistent speed and better torque and are favored by DJs and audiophiles alike.

Built-In or External Phono Preamp?

A few turntables have a phono stage built in. If it doesn’t, you’ll need one, too (more on this later). An example of a turntable that requires an external phono stage is the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO, a solid entry-level option that doesn't sacrifice audiophile sound.

Step 2: Understand the Cartridge

The cartridge holds the stylus (needle), which follows the grooves of your records. It’s an important component of your sound chain and is regularly built into entry-level record players.

MM vs. MC

• Two categories of cartridges will work with your turntable, and the most popular one is the moving magnet (MM) because it provides excellent quality and is easy to use.
• Moving Coil (MC) cartridges have finer detail, but may need specific phono preamps and setup expertise.

Recommended MM Cartridges for Beginners:

• Ortofon 2M Red - Balanced and forgiving
• Sumiko Rainier -Warm, smooth highs
• Audio-Technica VM95E - Great bang for the buck with clarity

This design makes this model easy to line up, replace, and enjoy even for first-time users.

Step 3: Set Up for Success

Without proper system tuning, even the best gear won’t sound its best. Here are some crucial alterations that every turntablist-in-training should be aware of:

Tracking Force

Calibrate a stylus force gauge to guarantee the weight of the record. Too little force and the needle will skip; too much can ruin your records.

Anti-Skate

That counters the inward pull of the toneram to ensure your stylus stays in the middle of the groove. Set it to the same value as your tracking force as a reference point.

Leveling

Check that your turntable is flat with an ordinary spirit level. Improper positioning may cause pitch variation or tracking errors.

Alignment

The cartridge alignment protractor allows you to adjust your headshell and cartridge accurately for minimum tracking error. For easy installation, we recommend the Ortofon Alignment Tool.

Other Essentials for Beginners

• Record Cleaning Machines - Clean records better for better sound!
• Vinyl Sleeves - For Dust and Static Protection
• Anti-static Brushes & Cleaning Kits - Maintains playback without obstructions to sound every day
• Entry-Level Phono Preamps - Enhance Your Audio with Wired Connectivity to Amps Without Dedicated Phono Input.

Even a small investment in accessories will keep your vinyl spinning smoothly and sounding exactly as it should be.

Final Thoughts: Begin Well, Pay Long

Playing vinyl is an intimidating business, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you get a high-quality turntable and a dependable cartridge and pay a bit of attention to the setup, you'll enjoy warm, detailed sound in no time.

There to help you sound better, we think you will enjoy this, where the levels are loud and the music even louder! Whether you’re in the market for a new pick-up or just perusing a potential transformative first audiophile purchase, our team can help.

Shop our full selection of turntables and turntable accessories and represent your favorite albums, in the way they were meant to be heard.