Turntable Terms

Turntables, record players, record changers, phonographs, gramophones, no matter what you want to call them, these devices were the most commonly used equipment for playing music for nearly a hundred years. Not only that, they were the first devices ever used to record and playback sound. In the early 1900s they were also known as "talking machines". Here are some other terms related to turntables that you may or may not be familiar with.

Phonograph - The term "phonograph" literally means "sound writer", and is derived from the Greek word meaning "sound" or "voice".

Cartridge - This refers to the part of the turntable containing the needle, or stylus, of the turntable that converts electrical impulses into sound.

Platter - The part of the turntable that the record lies on while it is playing.

Spindle  - The part of the record that rotates when placed on the turntable.

Anti-skate - This keeps the tone-arm from "skating" toward the center of the record while the turntable is playing. Centrifugal force tends to pull the tone-arm toward the center of the record while it is playing.

Base - The wood or plastic unit made in the shape of the turntable so that the turntable can sit on it while playing.

Cueing - This usually refers to a device that lifts the tone-arm mechanically from the record.

Tone-arm - Holds the cartridge, head, and stylus (needle) in place.

Types of turntables

Manual - Basically exactly how it sounds; all functions such as putting the needle on the record must be performed manually.

Semi-automatic - While the arm must still be manually placed onto turntable, when the record it finished playing, a semi-automatic turntable will either shut the player off, lift the record off, or return the tonearm to the base.

Automatic - Most everything can be done with a simple push of a button, aside from adjustments for record size. 

Changer - Although it has the same features as an automatic turntable, it has the added bonus of being able to play multiple records back to back which are stacked onto the player.

More information on turntables