Turntables. Why so many?

[pastoralguy]

In my idle moments, I enjoy looking at photos of the Hi-fi systems of the rich on Pinterest. My goodness, there are some amazing set ups out there. However, I'm always a bit puzzled as to why one would want three, four or even five turntables connected to ones system.

In fact, while I'm asking, I often see single turntables with up to four arms which I presume are equipped with different cartridges.

Just wondering.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm puzzled as to why so many different models are available in 2017.

[LeMartinPecheur]

In my idle moments, I enjoy looking at photos of the Hi-fi systems of the rich on Pinterest. My goodness, there are some amazing set ups out there. However, I'm always a bit puzzled as to why one would want three, four or even five turntables connected to ones system.

In fact, while I'm asking, I often see single turntables with up to four arms which I presume are equipped with different cartridges.

Just wondering.

Those of us who still want to play 78s need a turntable with that speed AND a cartridge with the correct bloody-great stylus. Changing cartridges is no joke so it's better to have at least a separate arm for the job. Actually, I have an early Linn Sondek for LPs and an ancient 4(*)-speed t/t to play 78s. But because early Sondeks were 33rpm only, this means I can't play 45s

My 78 collection takes up only some 4' of shelving, utterly insignificant compared with the LP/ CD footage. Though Mrs LMP probably wouldn't agree...

Not being able to play 45s isn't a huge problem - I get by!

(*) Yep, it does 16rpm too! Used I believe at least briefly for 'talking books' though I've never even seen one. Has anybody??

By the way, if anyone is worried about my apparent extreme age if still playing 78s, I should add that I started record collecting with LPs in my teens c1970. My 78s came from my father and his father, and a lot of junk-shop purchases, the last only about 2 yrs ago

[Serial_Apologist]

That question's got me scratching...

[pastoralguy]

My late Uncle Bob, who really introduced me to classical music, had a collection of famous speeches of British Prime Mimsters as well as King Edward's abdication speech. These were on 16 rpm records. Even as a child I could appreciate that the fidelity of reproduction was not of the highest quality.

[MrGongGong]

That question's got me scratching...

You need this then

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

By the way, if anyone is worried about my apparent extreme age if still playing 78s, I should add that I started record collecting with LPs in my teens c1970. My 78s came from my father and his father, and a lot of junk-shop purchases, the last only about 2 yrs ago

Well, I must be extremely old, as I cut my musical teeth on 78s:

Handel's Messiah on 36 sides, Mozart 40th on 6 sides, Rachmaninov 2nd PC on 10 sides, Tchaik's R & J on 5 sides, Beethoven 5th on 8 sides.

I still think of Romeo & Juliet as being in five separate movements.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I also had the odd 80 rpm disc.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I also had the odd 80 rpm disc.

Ah, I wondered when we were going to get into this area! In the garage I have my dad's Goldring-Lenco GL75 trurntable with continuously variable speed, which I've hung onto in case I ever want (have the patience and knowledge) to try early 78s at different pitches and speeds.
Loads of long arguments still running about (eg) whether Francesco-Lucia da Rimini-Scicchi's 1904 recording of Vesti la giubba really was in C flat major as it plays at 78, when it completely ruins his/her tone

[LeMartinPecheur]

In my idle moments, I enjoy looking at photos of the Hi-fi systems of the rich on Pinterest. My goodness, there are some amazing set ups out there. However, I'm always a bit puzzled as to why one would want three, four or even five turntables connected to ones system.

In fact, while I'm asking, I often see single turntables with up to four arms which I presume are equipped with different cartridges.

Just wondering.

Another factor in this is the very large differences between cartridges in tone colour and tracking ability. Maybe dynamic range too?

Some records used to demand a different cartridge. I can dimly recall a Supaphon set in the 1970s, probably a Janacek opera, that sounded absolutely abyssmal on my standard cartridge, a Shure IIRC. But it was perfectly OK on another. Never worked out exactly why this was but my best guess was that the Shure stylus was sitting too far down the groove wall and picking up or trying to track a load of cr*p!

[cloughie]

Another factor in this is the very large differences between cartridges in tone colour and tracking ability. Maybe dynamic range too?

Some records used to demand a different cartridge. I can dimly recall a Supaphon set in the 1970s, probably a Janacek opera, that sounded absolutely abyssmal on my standard cartridge, a Shure IIRC. But it was perfectly OK on another. Never worked out exactly why this was but my best guess was that the Shure stylus was sitting too far down the groove wall and picking up or trying to track a load of cr*p!

Althogh I just have the one deck, permanently connected to my amp and used occasionally, I think there is probably a good case for having two decks, one for pristine LPs and the other for dubious condition purchased from charity shops and car boots.

[retroman]

There's quite a good argument for using separate units for 78 and microgroove - avoiding getting slate dust on your vinyl, for starters. Also, the optimum arm/cartridge arrangement is different. As to these people with four turntables and seven arms, well...

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks for the contributions.

[Richard Tarleton]

I think this may have been posted before, but just in case....


©The New Yorker

[gradus]

Like Lmp I have several feet of inherited 78's but unlike him no means of playing them. There are a few that I should like to hear again - Barbirolli conducting the Meistersinger quintet with the greatest Wagnerian singers of the day, Maria Nemeth in Korngold and a few other choice recordings but its sentiment that keeps the collection on the shelf.