Benny Audio writes: “Forty years ago marked a pivotal moment in audio history: the introduction of the CD format. This innovation heralded the end of what many consider the golden era of vinyl records. Some might argue that this transition was justified, given the inherent drawbacks of vinyl. Vinyl records are bulky, heavy, challenging to produce, easily damaged, and inherently flawed, with a maximum capacity of only 20 minutes per side. One could humorously suggest that vinyl is a medium designed for masochists.
However, these numerous disadvantages are eclipsed by a significant advantage—the quality of sound. When a high-quality vinyl record is played on excellent equipment, the resulting audio experience can be transcendently superior to that of its theoretically more perfect digital counterpart. This unique characteristic of record, offering an almost heavenly sound quality, was perhaps not fully appreciated back in 1983. It underscores the enduring appeal of records, which continue to be cherished by audiophiles and music enthusiasts despite the technological advancements of the digital age.
But why do turntables sound so different? What makes one turntable better than another?
Let’s start with a simple exercise. Imagine that you may have the two best turntables in the world on your audio rack, each equipped with the finest tonearms and cartridges, and cost is no object. It doesn’t really matter if it is an old-school direct drive or some fancy new belt drive. I’m not interested in which models you pick, as that’s entirely a personal choice. Once we visualize these exquisite machines on the shelf, the task moves to the next stage—you can keep only one of these turntables. Think about which one you would choose to keep and why. Try to identify any objective comparable parameters. Don’t let the price influence your decision.
Typically, this scenario prompts people to open their eyes wide in astonishment as they realize they don’t have an immediate answer. In this challenging, though thankfully virtual, exercise—stripped of objective metrics—participants are guided by their sense of aesthetics (both visual and sonic) and the brand’s market value (for easier resale, etc.), but almost nothing beyond that.
Consider how we make decisions when picking up a cell phone—how many parameters can we list instantly? Similarly, when purchasing a car, do we just request a powerful one? And what exactly does “powerful” mean? For some, it might mean 100 horsepower, while for others it could be 500. Importantly, horsepower is measured consistently, whether in Japan or the USA, allowing us to compare apples to apples. Of course – in the case of a car, power is just a starting point and it does not guarantee that one car will drive better than another, but at least we can start somewhere.
The world revolves around numbers, indicators, measurements, and benchmarks. Have turntables evolved beyond what they were in the 1980s? Despite advances in miniaturization and digital technology, can we effectively measure a mechanical device like a turntable?
Yes, we can. The issue isn’t the capability to measure but rather the absence of standards, the arbitrariness in their declaration, and the proclamation of equipment as “the best and reference” without any basis. While we have more and more advanced solutions, we still are not fully aware of their impact on performance.
What then, can we measure? It turns out, not a lot, but still something. When examining a turntable, we can essentially identify two main components:
- The drive
- The tonearm
That’s pretty much it. Within these two components of the turntable, we can perform several interesting measurements, which I’ll delve into next time, particularly focusing first on the drive.