Frequently asked questions about turntables and vinyl, belt-drive vs direct-drive, cartridges, headshells, alignment and more.
Either a good step-up transformer or a really good (5k+) active gain stage. There is no one best phono preamplifier, but almost nothing does a better job of taking extraordinarily small signals from a moving coil cartridge and amplifying them than a top-notch step-up transformer. The only thing better is an absolutely first-class active gain […]
This is a really good question, variations of which I hear a lot. Let’s look at this in a little more detail. Here’s the summary, though: cartridge alignment tools are typically setup tools, not measurement tools. These setup tools are designed for various unique tonearm setups and should therefore be used with the precise equipment
Yes, we can supply and fit a belt if your turntable visits Liquid Audio for a service, for example. Liquid Audio is not a retailer, though, so we don’t operate a retail storefront or offer retail parts sales. This is exactly the same as a mechanic not selling spark plugs to the general public. We
I suggest avoiding equipment in poor condition, as a general rule. My recommendation is always to buy the very best example of the equipment you are looking for, in the best condition, with the best service history, and a recent inspection and condition assessment, if possible. Everyone wants a bargain, and buying equipment in poor
What are your thoughts on buying equipment in poor condition? Read More »
No, not without taking a few precautions! If you quite enjoy your current cartridge, let me give you a little bit of advice, from one long-time lover of all things vinyl to another. Nothing ruins your day faster than an absent-minded dust down of your turntable with a soft microfibre cloth, that runs a little
If you are going to get a belt, a critically important part of how your turntable runs, at least get a good one. How will you know if you’re getting a cheap turntable drive belt or a quality belt of the correct size or not? Well, if it’s very cheap, that probably answers your question!
Hell, yeah! Everything in the signal path and attached to a cartridge makes a difference. Materials and construction improve as one spends more on headshells, wires and mounting hardware. This translates to better detail retrieval and micro-resolution. Naturally, the higher your system resolution, the more noticeable these differences will be, which is why I focus
Do headshells, wires and mounting hardware make a difference? Read More »
