{"id":513988,"date":"2023-11-10T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T07:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/?p=513988"},"modified":"2023-11-09T13:39:24","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T12:39:24","slug":"turntables-which-is-right-for-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/gear\/turntables-which-is-right-for-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Turntables: Which Is Right For Me?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eat, sleep, rave, repeat! \ud83d\ude42 <\/strong>Vinyl is more popular than ever. A record doesn\u2019t convey a momentary, digital impression of the music, but preserves it for all time as a physical groove cut into vinyl. You can touch it, collect it, and pass it along, and it\u2019s simply fun to play! But you\u2019ll need a turntable<\/a>, and there\u2019s a wide variety available for any application. We\u2019ll help you find the right one!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

1. Turntabels for DJs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For authentic mixing and scratching, you\u2019ll need two manual (non-automatic) turntables with pitch faders, direct drive, and powerful motors. The Technics SL1210 \u2013 the \u201cmother of all DJ turntables\u201d \u2013 was recently reissued as the MK7 version<\/strong><\/a>, after Technics had surprisingly withdrawn from the turntable business for several years in 2010.<\/p>\n

\"Technics<\/a>
Technics SL-1210 MK 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Reloop RP-7000 MK2<\/strong><\/a> is also an excellent turntable with an exceptionally powerful motor. For smaller budgets, the Reloop RP 4000 MK2<\/strong><\/a> or the Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP<\/strong><\/a> are affordable alternatives. And it goes without saying that you\u2019ll also need a mixer with at least two channels.<\/p>\n

\"Reloop<\/a>
Reloop RP 7000 MK2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Audio-Technica<\/a>
Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP Black<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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2. DVS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

DVS stands for \u201eDigital Vinyl System\u201c, which refers to controlling DJ software such as Serato, Traktor, or Rekordbox using vinyl records that output a timecode signal instead of music. Many modern DJ mixers are now DVS-certified. If you don\u2019t own one of these, you can use a dedicated DVS interface like the Reloop Flux<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Reloop<\/a>
Reloop Flux<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DVS DJing is most fun when you combine the traditional art of turntablism with the modern version \u2013 \u201ccontrollerism\u201d. As an alternative to special controllers for the cue points, loops, and effects of your DJ software, you can use the Reloop RP-8000 MKII. While it\u2019s mostly identical to the RP-7000 MK2<\/strong><\/a>, it offers a set of RGB pads for controlling your software as an extra feature.<\/p>\n

\"Reloop<\/a><\/p>\n

Reloop RP-8000 MKII<\/p>\n

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3. Turntables: <\/strong>Home Listening<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many vinyl enthusiasts simply want to listen to music in the comfort of their home in the best possible quality. For this, you don\u2019t need a pitch fader or a plethora of colourful buttons. This is where an automatic turntable comes in handy, which automatically returns the tone arm to its resting position when the stylus reaches the end of the groove. Turntables in an exquisite walnut finish like the Thorens TD 1601<\/strong><\/a> or TD 1500<\/strong><\/a> are a perfect fit for the living room. Another option: the Thorens TD 402 DD black<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Thorens<\/a>
Thorens TD 402 DD black<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pro-Ject Debut RecordMaster turntable<\/strong><\/a>, which is available in black, red, and white finishes in addition to walnut. High-quality hi-fi listening is the domain of fancy, elliptical diamond styluses. While they\u2019re not suitable for scratching, they deliver an especially high degree of fidelity for home listening.<\/p>\n

\"Pro-Ject<\/a>
Pro-Ject Debut RecordMaster II HGR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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4. <\/strong>Digitisation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If your goal is to digitise your record collection in the highest possible quality, the best option is to use a high-quality turntable and a separate audio interface, as these are usually superior to the built-in interfaces of certain turntables. But if you\u2019re on a budget, you can use a DJ turntable such as the Dual DTJ 301-1 USB<\/strong><\/a> or the American Audio TTD 2400 USB MKII<\/strong><\/a>. As their names suggest, these feature built-in USB connectors, so you can hook them up directly to your computer and digitise your vinyl collection to your hard drive.<\/p>\n

\"Dual<\/a>
Dual DTJ 301-1 USB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"American<\/a>
American Audio TTD 2400 USB MKII<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

5. Portablism<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201ePortablism\u201c is a relatively new subgenre of turnablism that makes use of portable record players. These compact players are also great for travelling, browsing flea markets, or simply hanging out with your friends in the park. They run on rechargeable or alkaline batteries, can be connected wirelessly to any Bluetooth speaker like the Reloop Spin<\/strong><\/a>, or output a digital signal via USB like the Numark PT-01 Scratch<\/strong><\/a> or Stanton STX<\/strong><\/a>. While you shouldn\u2019t have overly high expectations in terms of the sound quality, these portable turntables are great fun!<\/p>\n

\"Numark<\/a>
Numark PT-01 Scratch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Stanton<\/a>
Stanton STX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

6. Turntables: The right Cartridge<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Any turntable is only as good as the cartridge! Whether it\u2019s mounted beneath the headshell like the Audio-Technica AT-XP7<\/strong><\/a> or sports a sleek single-body Concorde design like the Stanton DS4<\/strong><\/a> or the especially affordable Fun Generation Scratch: The needle of a DJ turntable must be able to handle cueing and scratching. The Concorde design was invented by Ortofon, whose Concorde MKII series<\/strong> comprises a wealth of cartridges for various DJing applications. They also come in pairs for equipping two decks with identical systems.<\/p>\n

\"Audio-Technica<\/a>
Audio-Technica AT-XP7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Stanton<\/a>
Stanton DS4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ortofon also offers the highly acclaimed 2M<\/strong><\/a> and MC Quintet series<\/strong><\/a>, which are highly recommended for home listening. These styluses feature an elliptical cut, which ensures a larger contact surface in the groove, resulting in better high-frequency response and less wear. The selection ranges from the affordable 2M Red<\/strong><\/a> to the MC Quintet Black S<\/strong><\/a>, which costs a bit more and boasts a superfine Shibata stylus. Audiophile enthusiasts certainly won\u2019t mind the price, as the precision-cut Nude diamonds guarantee utmost fidelity.<\/p>\n

\"Ortofon<\/a>
Ortofon 2M Red<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Ortofon<\/a>
Ortofon MC Quintet Black S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

7. Phono vs. Line \u2013 the right Preamp<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many modern turntables feature a line output in addition to the phono output, which means that they\u2019re equipped with built-in preamplifiers. But there are many \u2013 even professional ones like the Technics SL-1210 \u2013 that still require a mixer or amplifier with a phono preamp. No, the \u201cphono\u201d input isn\u2019t meant for your smartphone \u2013 as one could be led to believe these days \u2013 but serves to boost the level of a connected turntable to line level.<\/p>\n

Virtually every DJ mixer offers this type of input with RIAA equalization. But if you want to listen to your records at home without using a DJ mixer, you\u2019ll either need a hi-fi amplifier with a phono input (a near-extinct species) or an external phono preamp that outputs a line-level signal. Caution: There\u2019s a significant price difference between budget models and high-end hi-fi devices. Some tried-and-true models are the Millenium PHP 2<\/strong><\/a> and the ART DJ Pre II Phono Preamp<\/strong><\/a>. The latter is also suitable for use with high-quality moving-magnet cartridges.<\/p>\n

\"Millenium<\/a>
Millenium PHP 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"ART<\/a>
ART DJ Pre II Phono Preamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

\ud83d\udc49 Click here for turntables and DJ equipment on thomann.de<\/a>! <\/strong>\ud83d\udc48<\/h2>\n
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Advice on questions about DJing and turntables<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Do you still have questions about turntables and DJing? Do you need advice on finding the right turntable or DJ gear for you? Our team in the DJ department will be happy to advise you \u2013 without obligation, of course. Just contact us!<\/p>\n

Email: dj@thomann.de<\/a><\/p>\n

Tel: +49 9546 9223-441<\/p>\n

You are also welcome to browse the DJ category in the Thomann shop to find the right equipment for you<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0Feedback turntables<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We hope that we were able to give you some useful tips for choosing the right turntable and cartridge. How do you listen to your records and which turntable do you use? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether turntables for playing in the club or for at home – you’ll find it here! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":513997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tblog_post_audio_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1083],"tags":[15771,5823,8173,15756],"class_list":["post-513988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear","tag-audio-technica","tag-djing-en","tag-preamp","tag-turntable"],"category_colors":{"color_key":"gear","css_classes":{"text":"cat-gear","text_light":"cat-gear-light","bg":"cat-bg-gear","bg_light":"cat-bg-gear-light","border":"cat-border-gear","text_on_bg":"cat-text-on-gear"}},"reading_time":{"minutes":6,"formatted":"6 min"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513988\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/513997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=513988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=513988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}