A turntable is an audio device used to play music from vinyl records. The basic parts are:
- A flat circular surface that’s called a platter, which spins with the help of a small electric motor, and
- A thin arm on the side of the platter has a special needle attached to its end. This needle can read the narrow grooves on a vinyl record and picks up sound information that comes out of your speakers as music.
A turntable refers to either a standalone audio device or to the core part of a record player with built-in amplifier and speakers.
Turntables and record players were the most popular devices to play music in the 1960s and 1970s. Although cassette tapes, CDs, and online music streaming overtook their use, vinyl records are gaining popularity again. People are buying record players again because they often prefer the unique (warmer) sound from vinyl records over more modern media.
This guide is your starting point for learning more about record players and turntables. Each section provides you with a high-level overview, and you can click through to more detailed articles to get to know record players and vinyl records better.