Technology Guide

Turntable and Vinyl Playback Guide

Understand the vinyl playback chain, including turntables, cartridges, styli, tonearms, phono stages and system matching.

Vinyl playback is a mechanical chain. Turntable setup, cartridge choice, stylus condition, phono gain, and isolation all affect the music.

Audico guideSpecialist planning

Buying journey

Guided discovery, not a generic product grid.

Each step helps customers ask better questions and understand when Audico expertise matters.

Journey

Understand the playback chain

Vinyl playback is a mechanical and electrical chain. The record groove moves the stylus, the cartridge converts that movement into a tiny signal, the tonearm controls geometry and tracking, and the phono stage applies large amounts of gain plus RIAA equalisation. Small setup errors can become audible because the signal starts so fragile. Audico should explain that a turntable is not only a source component; it is a precision instrument that depends on support, alignment, clean records and compatible electronics.

View category →

Journey

Choose cartridge and stylus carefully

The cartridge and stylus shape much of the vinyl experience. Moving magnet cartridges are practical, affordable and often allow stylus replacement or upgrade without changing the whole body. Moving coil cartridges can reveal more texture and speed, but they usually need a compatible low-noise phono stage, correct loading and more careful setup. Stylus profile also matters: elliptical, nude elliptical, microline and other advanced shapes track grooves differently. The right choice depends on tonearm compatibility, record condition, budget and the rest of the system.

Journey

Do not skip the phono stage

A phono stage is not a normal line input. It adds substantial gain to a tiny cartridge signal and applies the RIAA equalisation curve that restores bass and treble balance from the record. Gain, loading, noise floor, overload margin and circuit quality strongly influence tonal balance, dynamics and hum performance. Built-in phono inputs can be convenient, but better cartridges often justify a dedicated stage. Audico should match moving magnet or moving coil requirements carefully and check grounding in the customer’s actual system.

View category →

Journey

Control vibration and alignment

Turntables are sensitive to vibration, tilt and incorrect geometry. A level, rigid support reduces footfall and cabinet feedback, while correct tracking force, anti-skate and cartridge alignment protect records and keep the stylus stable in the groove. Dirty records and worn styli create distortion and can cause permanent damage. Isolation platforms, wall shelves and careful speaker placement can make a bigger difference than an expensive cartridge in a compromised room. Audico should treat setup and maintenance as part of the vinyl purchase.

View category →

Shop the next step