December, month where Christmas brings together families, friendships, memories of those loved ones who are in other countries or who have already departed to eternity. Time of the year, where I like to listen to my vinyl records, using my record player collection. Equipment that make us experience music with High Fidelity, to sweeten our senses, fly emotions and be grateful for another year of life.
So I dusted off the records, choosing varied music from different genres: Polish bands, Jazz, Opera, Pop and New Age.
A vinyl record can be listened to in two ways: on a Record Player or on a Turntable. Both are analog sources.
The difference between each type of player is that a turntable is that equipment that, in the same unit, integrates the pre-amplification part and can have its built-in or external loudspeaker through its cable lines.
Turntables give us a better quality of recorded sound. This is what is used at a more professional level. They do not listen to themselves; they have to be coupled by their connection cables to amplifiers with Phono input, and their respective output to external speakers that offer a better sound performance.
Each one of them, allow us to reproduce the music that was recorded on those acetate discs, both at long duration speeds, at 33⅓ revolutions per minute (rpm), as well as shorter duration discs of 45 rpm.
The quality of a turntable depends on several factors: make and model, type of motor drive with its platter, type of cartridge and stylus, body or plinth weight, adequate suspension, speed adjustment systems, quality and counterweights of the arm, etc. They can be Manual, Semiautomatic and Automatic.
I will organize my collection of these equipments, starting from the type of traction used in its motor, and from the less quoted in the market to the most demanded.
A turntable from one of the best known brands, made in Japan. Its appearance is more vintage, it has a metal curved arm and its operation is simple.
I wanted you to see this album cover, because we have a distinct affection for it. Mazowsze is a Polish folk ensemble. For many years, their music has kept us company at Christmas.
It had its first debut in 1950; reflecting traditions that represent different regions of their country.
As a child, I had the pleasure of seeing them perform, and I will never forget their multicolored costumes, their jumping, the tools and axes that the men carried as mountain men, and the great energy they showed on stage.
A straight arm turntable, light in weight and simple in operation.
A turntable from another lesser known Japanese brand. With good performance, great weight and superb suspension. Its classic vintage look makes it a coveted piece for audiophiles. Curved metal arm, several counterweights and easy to handle.
The famous Japanese brand Sony, incorporates in this automatic model of 1978, speed regulation by stroboscopic light. Curved metallic arm. Medium weight.
Another well-known Japanese brand, which launched this model in the same year as the previous equipment. S-shaped metal arm. Medium weight. Auto return turntable.
Brand created in the United States since 1947. Highly valued for being a reference in High Fidelity equipment. Turntable with automatic return. With stroboscope and balanced metal arm.
World renowned Japanese brand. Model manufactured in 1976. With prism type strobe illuminator. Statically balanced S-shaped universal tone arm. Vintage automatic turntable with diamond needle Stanton brand.
We arrived at the mythical turntable. An equipment that came on the market in 1979, but that was the reference equipment in the reproduction of vinyl records, especially at the DJ level, and in many professional recording studios.
The most used worldwide in the discotheques; for its quality of construction, well ballasted to obtain an optimal stability. Continuous speed adjustment.
Strobe light, quartz synthesizer. Fast drive motor.
S-shaped metal arm, counterweights and cardanic suspension, among other features.
In short, an iron tank, which today is very expensive and is a collector's item because of its history, performance and durability.
The ritual of putting a vinyl on the turntable is very rewarding. It takes us back to times gone by, when analog audio technology gave us great pleasure and there was time to appreciate the music of the golden years.
That noise of the mechanical rubbing of the needle along the groove of the vinyl, called scratch, is something that is not forgotten; typical of all audio reproduction through a turntable, and that every lover of vintage audio perceives with pleasure and nostalgia.
Today, there is a growing level, among people around the world, to return to use the turntables, which are and always will be living legends in the history of sound.
Thanks if you made it to the end of the post. Have a nice Tuesday.
Own photos. Camera: Panasonic Lumix model DMC-ZS100
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Text by Andrés Brunet
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