Turntable and vinyl guide: how to choose yours
Buying a turntable is not complicated, but it is easy to get wrong: many cheap decks ship with an unadjusted stylus, no phono stage, and end up sounding worse than a phone. This is the guide we use at our Sitges shop.
1. Belt drive or direct drive
Belt drive isolates motor vibrations better and dominates hi-fi. Direct drive starts instantly and takes heavy use. For home listening, belt drive usually gives the best value.
2. The cartridge: half the sound
MM (moving magnet): high output, cheap styli, 90% of domestic decks. MC (moving coil): more detail, low output, expensive styli. A good deck with a good cartridge beats an expensive deck with a stock one — see cartridges.
3. Phono stage
Vinyl needs a RIAA phono stage before a normal amplifier. If your amp has no PHONO input, you need an external stage or a deck with a built-in one. Check before paying.
4. Stylus and wear
The stylus is the part that touches the record and wears out. A worn stylus damages vinyl permanently: if the sound turns sibilant, replace it. Spares in styluses.
5. Setup: tracking force and antiskating
Use the cartridge maker's tracking force, no more, no less; antiskating almost always at the same value. We set up every new deck in the shop.
6. Placement and record care
A rigid, level surface away from speakers and vibration. Clean record, clean stylus, carbon brush before each side, records stored upright and out of the sun.
7. Budget
€300-600 to start with a reliable deck; €600-1,500 is the real quality jump; above that, serious hi-fi. Every turntable we sell can be auditioned, and accessories are in the same section.
FAQ
Turntable or record player? The same thing. Do I need a PHONO input? Or a deck with a built-in stage. Do styli damage records? Only if worn or misadjusted.
Also in Barcelona, all of Catalonia and Spain
We serve customers from Sitges, Sant Pere de Ribes, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Cubelles, Castelldefels, Olivella, Canyelles, El Vendrell, Tarragona, Sant Cugat, Terrassa, Badalona, Barcelona and all of Catalonia, with delivery anywhere in Spain. C/ Jesús 48, Sitges · +34 667 41 59 87 (WhatsApp too).
Frequently asked questions about hi-fi and home cinema
Do you install home cinema and hi-fi systems at home?
Yes. From our Sitges shop (C/ Jesús 48) we design and install projects across the Barcelona area, Catalonia and the rest of Spain: cabling, assembly, commissioning and professional calibration.
How much does a home cinema or hi-fi project cost?
Every room is different, so the quote is tailored. We assess your project with no obligation, with entry-level, mid-range and High-End equipment. Call us on 667 41 59 87.
Which hi-fi brands do you work with?
More than 40 premium brands: Bowers & Wilkins, Focal, KEF, Dali, Monitor Audio, Marantz, Rotel, Classé, NAD, Cambridge Audio, Sonos, Sony and Epson, among others.
Can I listen to the equipment before buying?
Yes. We have listening rooms at our Sitges shop (C/ Jesús 48): book an appointment on 667 41 59 87 and listen to the system you are interested in before deciding.
Do you ship and install throughout Spain?
Yes, we ship nationwide and carry out professional installations in Barcelona, all of Catalonia and the rest of Spain.