Vinyl and Turntable Glossary: 20 Terms Explained
The words that show up in vinyl and turntable specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- Anti-skate
- A setting that counters the tonearm's pull toward the record center so the stylus sits evenly in the groove.
- Read more about anti-skate
- Anti-static brush
- A carbon fiber brush that removes dust and static from a record's surface before play.
- Read more about anti-static brushRelated: Best Anti-Static Brushes for Vinyl (2026)
- Belt drive
- A turntable design where a rubber belt connects the motor to the platter, isolating motor vibration from the record.
- Read more about belt driveRelated: Best Belt-Drive Turntables (2026)
- Cartridge
- The part that holds the stylus and converts groove vibrations into an electrical signal, mounted in the headshell.
- Read more about cartridgeRelated: Best Moving Magnet Cartridges (2026)
- Counterweight
- The adjustable weight at the back of the tonearm used to balance it and set the correct tracking force.
- Read more about counterweight
- Direct drive
- A turntable design where the motor turns the platter directly, giving quick start-up and stable speed, favored by DJs.
- Read more about direct driveRelated: Best Direct-Drive Turntables (2026)
- Grounding
- Connecting a turntable's ground wire to a phono preamp or receiver's ground terminal to prevent hum in the signal.
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- Headshell
- The small mount at the end of the tonearm that holds the cartridge in place with two or four small screws.
- Read more about headshell
- Isolation
- Reducing vibration reaching the turntable from speakers and footsteps, often with a solid stand or feet.
- Read more about isolationRelated: Best Turntable Stands for Vinyl (2026)
- Moving coil (MC)
- A cartridge type with very low output that needs a compatible phono stage, often with a fixed, non-replaceable stylus.
- Read more about moving coil (mc)Related: Best Moving Coil Cartridges (2026)
- Moving magnet (MM)
- The most common cartridge type, higher output and usually with a user-replaceable stylus, easy to match with any system.
- Read more about moving magnet (mm)Related: Best Moving Magnet Cartridges (2026)
- Phono preamp
- Amplifies and equalizes the tiny cartridge signal to line level. Some turntables and receivers have one built in.
- Read more about phono preampRelated: Best Phono Preamps (2026)
- Platter
- The flat, round disc a record rests on, driven by the motor, usually made of metal, acrylic or a composite.
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- Plinth
- The turntable's base or chassis, which houses the motor and platter bearing and helps damp outside vibration.
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- RIAA equalization
- The standard curve applied when records are cut and reversed by the phono preamp during playback.
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- RPM
- Revolutions per minute, the platter speed a record must spin at, with 33 1/3, 45 and 78 as the vinyl standards.
- Read more about rpm
- Stylus shape
- The tip profile ground into the stylus diamond, from durable conical shapes to more detailed elliptical and line-contact designs.
- Read more about stylus shapeRelated: Best Elliptical Styli (2026)
- Tonearm
- The pivoting arm that holds the cartridge and headshell and guides the stylus along the record groove.
- Read more about tonearm
- Tracking force
- The downward force of the stylus on the record, set with the counterweight in grams to the cartridge maker's spec.
- Read more about tracking force
- Wow and flutter
- Slow and fast fluctuations in a turntable's speed that cause audible pitch wavering, especially on sustained notes.
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