The Analog Lexicon: A Glossary of Essential Terms

Anti-Skate: An essential, corrective force that prevents the tonearm from being pulled toward the record's center. It ensures the stylus sits perfectly centered in the groove, which is critical for a balanced stereo image and even record wear.
Azimuth: The vertical alignment of the stylus in the groove. Viewed head-on, the stylus should be perfectly perpendicular to the record surface, not tilted. Proper azimuth is the foundation of a stable and accurate stereo image.

Belt Drive: A turntable design philosophy where an elastic belt connects an offset motor to the platter. This mechanically isolates the platter from motor vibrations, often resulting in a lower noise floor and a smooth, fluid sound.

Cantilever: The tiny, rigid tube that holds the stylus at one end and is attached to the cartridge's generator at the other. Its job is to faithfully transfer the vibrations from the groove. Materials range from aluminum to exotic substances like boron or ruby.
Cartridge: The first instrument in the playback chain. This transducer at the end of the tonearm converts the physical vibrations of the stylus into the electrical signal that becomes music.
Compliance: The "suspension" of the stylus and cantilever assembly. High compliance (soft) is suited for lightweight tonearms, while low compliance (stiff) is for heavy ones. Mismatching them compromises the stylus's ability to properly trace the groove.
Crosstalk: Signal bleed from one stereo channel to the other. Low crosstalk is the hallmark of a well-calibrated system, resulting in a wide, holographic soundstage where instruments have their own distinct space.

Dead Wax: The blank space between the final groove and the record label. It contains the record's birth certificate: the handwritten signature of the mastering engineer and the matrix numbers identifying that specific pressing.
Direct Drive: A turntable design where the platter sits directly on the motor. This provides exceptional speed stability and high torque, resulting in a powerful, rhythmically precise sound. The path of absolute control.
Dynamic Range: The difference between the quietest and loudest sounds in a recording. Wide dynamic range gives music a sense of life, breath, and visceral impact, a quality often sacrificed in hyper-compressed digital formats.

EP (Extended Play): A medium-length record, typically with 2-3 songs per side. Often pressed on a 12-inch disc at 45 RPM, allowing for wider grooves and superior fidelity.

Gatefold: A record jacket that unfolds like a book, providing a larger canvas for artwork, lyrics, and liner notes. A sign of a quality release where the physical artifact is as important as the music.
Goldmine Standard: The universal language for grading the condition of used vinyl. Understanding the difference between Near Mint (NM), Very Good Plus (VG+), and Very Good (VG) is the most critical skill for any crate digger.

Headshell: The component at the end of the tonearm where the cartridge is mounted. Detachable headshells allow for easy cartridge swapping, letting you change your system's sonic character at will.

Idler Drive: A vintage turntable technology where a rubber wheel transfers power from the motor to the platter. Idler tables are prized by a dedicated school of listeners for their high torque and powerful, dynamic sound, especially their visceral bass response.
IGD (Inner Groove Distortion): The fuzzy, compressed sound that can occur on the last track of a record side. The slower-moving grooves are harder to track, and IGD is a clear sign of a worn stylus or a poorly aligned cartridge.

Lacquer: The master disc. This soft, acetate-coated aluminum plate is where a mastering engineer cuts the initial grooves from the master tape. This fragile artifact is then used to create the metal stampers for mass production.
LP (Long Play): The standard 12-inch, 33⅓ RPM album format, designed to hold around 22 minutes of music per side.

MC (Moving Coil): A type of cartridge where the coils move within a fixed magnetic field. The lower moving mass allows for superior tracking and detail retrieval, but MC cartridges require a special phono preamp. The choice of the virtuoso.
MM (Moving Magnet): The most common type of cartridge, where a magnet moves between fixed coils. Known for their warm, robust sound and user-replaceable styli. The reliable workhorse.
Mono (Monophonic): A single-channel recording. For much of vinyl's golden age, the mono mix was the definitive version, presenting the music as a powerful, cohesive statement from a single point in space.

Non-Fill: A pressing defect where the vinyl failed to completely fill the stamper, leaving a rough patch. It produces a nasty ripping sound and is, for a critic, an unforgivable flaw.

Obi Strip: The paper sash wrapped around Japanese pressings, containing information in Japanese. For collectors, an intact Obi is a mark of a complete, well-preserved artifact.

Phono Preamp: The unsung hero. It performs two vital jobs: boosting the cartridge's tiny signal and applying the RIAA equalization curve. Without it, records would sound tinny and almost silent. A quality phono preamp is a major system upgrade.
Platter: The spinning foundation that supports the record. A heavy, non-resonant platter acts like a flywheel, ensuring speed stability and damping vibrations for a cleaner sound.
Plinth: The turntable's base. Its job is to provide a heavy, stable, and inert platform, isolating the delicate mechanics of playback from external vibrations.

RIAA Equalization: The industry-standard curve applied during record cutting (reducing bass, boosting treble) and reversed during playback by the phono preamp. This clever handshake allows for longer playing times and better fidelity.
RPM (Revolutions Per Minute): The speed of rotation. 33⅓ for LPs and 12-inch EPs, 45 for 7-inch singles, and 78 for old shellac records.

Sibilance: The harsh, splashy distortion of "s" and "t" sounds. It is a clear sign that the stylus is struggling to trace the high-frequency information in the groove, often due to wear or improper setup.
Soundstage: The three-dimensional illusion of a performance in your room. A great system doesn't just make sound; it paints a sonic picture, placing instruments in a tangible space between and beyond the speakers.
Stamper: The metal mold—a negative image of the grooves—that is used in the press to physically stamp a hot puck of vinyl into a playable record. Stampers have a finite lifespan.
Stylus: The diamond tip that reads the groove. This microscopic point of contact is arguably the most critical component in your entire system. It is where the magic begins.

Tonearm: The precision instrument that holds the cartridge and guides it across the record. A great tonearm is both perfectly rigid and nearly frictionless, allowing the stylus to do its job without interference.
Tracking Force (VTF): The downward pressure, in grams, of the stylus in the groove. It must be set precisely to the cartridge manufacturer's specification. Too light, and the sound is thin and prone to skipping. Too heavy, and the sound is dull and you are damaging your records.

VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle): The angle at which the stylus sits in the groove, typically adjusted by raising or lowering the tonearm pivot. Correct VTA locks the sound into focus, providing maximum clarity and coherence.

Wow and Flutter: Audible pitch variations caused by inconsistent platter speed. "Wow" is a slow, seasick wavering; "flutter" is a rapid trembling. A great turntable has virtually none, providing a rock-solid sonic foundation.