Collectors walk past the crate of 78s, scared off by the speed and fragility. They miss the point. The shellac era isn't a museum exhibit; it's a time machine. We explain why these heavy, brittle discs offer a "direct-to-disc" immediacy that modern vinyl can't touch. We dismantle the gear snobbery around the "suitcase" player and lay down the absolute rule of the format: the 3-mil stylus. Stop ignoring the heavyweights and start listening to history with the gloves off.
Read more →Tags: Idler Drive
The Unseen Engine: Belt Drive vs. Direct Drive
A turntable has one, singular, mechanical job: to spin a disc at a perfectly unwavering speed. For a 12-inch LP, that’s 33 and 1/3 revolutions per minute. Any deviation, however slight, and the musical pitch wavers, the rhythm stumbles, and the illusion is broken. How a turntable achieves this simple, perfect rotation is the first great philosophical split in analog design. It’s a choice that fundamentally shapes the character of the music that follows. The “unseen engine” that spins the platter is not just a motor; it’s a statement of intent. There are three paths: isolation, control, or force.
Read more →