Is having a counterweight tonearm important on record player?
I'm trying to buy a record player, I heard that if you don't have a counterweight on a tonearm that the needle will dig into your vinyl and ruin it a lot faster? I need some good advice PLEASE! could anyone give me good info on buying a decent record player, and what to look for when buying?
thanks!
Yeah, you want a happy medium between enough downforce to stop the needle jumping or skipping, but not enough to wear out your records quicker. The biggest factors are weight, and drive type. You want belt driven (because the belt soaks up vibrations from the motor. DJ decks are direct drive, because they need the torque, but for HIFI you don't), and the heavier the better (soaks up extraneous vibrations, and just an indicator of better quality in general - as with all HIFI gear).