How Important is a Tonearm Anyway?
Many audiophiles swear by vinyl; they love the sound, the ambiance, the whole experience. Each major component serves an important function, but the tonearm is the connector between the turntable and the information on a vinyl record.
What is a Turntable?
Often mistaken for a record player, a Dual turntable is a very similar piece of audio electronics. Its entire purpose is to spin records at a constant speed and turn them into music. This requires a few qualities, not least of which is a drive system that can very rapidly reach a precise speed and then maintain it. There are three primary components to a turntable:
- Plinth: This is the base of the unit. It not only holds the motor but also has to damp out any vibrations.
- Platter: This both spins and supports the vinyl. It needs to support the record evenly and also maintain a constant speed.
- Tonearm: This component does the heavy lifting of turning grooves in the vinyl into electrical impulses that produce music.
What Does the Tonearm Do?
When it comes to the tonearm, there is a lot going on. It not only has to track a tiny groove in a rapidly spinning disk, but it also has to strike a balance between putting so much weight on the disk that it digs into the vinyl and so little that it skips across the tracks. There are three main parts to a Dual tonearm:
- Counterweight: Mounted behind the pivot, this is more than just a lump of metal. Its job is to balance the downward force on the stylus and keep the tone arm on an even keel. Many are even adjustable, so you can dial in the amount of downward force exerted by the stylus to match a specific LP.
- Arm: More than just a tube, the arm has to be both light and strong so that it doesn't introduce any vibrations that might throw off the audio signal from the stylus. It also has to track smoothly across the disk while ensuring a uniform force.
- Head Shell: This holds the cartridge, which holds the stylus, or needle, that actually picks up the tiny vibrations from the grooves and turns them into music.
Choosing a Turntable
Unlike a record player, which contains an amplifier so that it can power speakers as a standalone music system a turntable produces a very faint output that needs amplification before you can use it. This is one reason why many stereos have a dedicated phono input to take that signal and amplify it enough that you can use it as easily as any of your other sources.
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