Levysoittimet

Levysoittimet, often translated as record players or turntables, are electro-mechanical devices used to reproduce sound from vinyl records. The core component is a platter that rotates at a precise speed, typically 33 1/3, 45, or 78 revolutions per minute. A tonearm, equipped with a stylus (needle), is placed in the record's groove. As the record spins, the stylus vibrates, tracing the undulations of the groove. These vibrations are then converted into an electrical signal by a cartridge at the end of the tonearm. This signal is amplified and sent to speakers, producing audible sound.

Early record players were purely mechanical, powered by winding a spring and using a diaphragm to amplify sound. The advent of electricity and electronics revolutionized their design, leading to the more sophisticated devices common today. Modern levysoittimet often feature direct-drive or belt-drive motors for stable rotation, adjustable counterweights and anti-skate mechanisms on the tonearm to ensure proper tracking and minimize record wear, and various types of cartridges with different stylus profiles. They remain popular among audiophiles and music enthusiasts for their perceived warm sound quality and the tactile experience of playing vinyl.