(Note: with the diagrams in this post it is best viewed on desktop rather than mobile)
So you're starting your record journey, or maybe you're upgrading to a new setup but you're confused by all the various components. What do you need, what don't you need, how does it all fit together?
By the end of this blog post you should be able to put together your very own HIFI setup and start spinning your records!
Every record player setup will consist of the following components:
Record Player -> Phono Preamp -> Amplifier -> Speaker
A quick explanation of each of these components:
Record Player: Sometimes called a turntable, this is the component that actually interacts with your records. At their most basic a turntable has a spinning platter that your record sits on and a tone arm with a needle that tracks along the surface of the record to convert the grooves into an audio signal.
Phono Preamp: All modern records are mastered with the "RIAA Equalisation Curve" which reduces the low frequencies and boosts the high frequencies, this makes it easier to record the music on vinyl, a phono preamp reverses this process and also boosts the signal. Without a phono preamp or phono stage somewhere in your system your records will all sound super quiet and distorted. Sometimes this is built into your turntable, your integrated amplifier, or your powered speakers.
Amplifier: This is the component that gives power to the speakers to allow them to vibrate and generate music. Sometimes this is a separate component like a stereo amplifier or integrated amplifier, or sometimes it is built into your speakers in the case of powered speakers.
Speakers: These actually do the vibrating to generate the sound waves that you hear as music.
Sometimes these components will all be separate, but sometimes one component will act as more than one of the above parts.
Below are some examples of possible setup configurations:
This covers pretty much all configurations you will come across. The components chosen for each setup can be swapped out as long as they are the same type of component so you can find the setup that works best for you!
If you need any further help come see us in store or give us a call or email at [email protected]