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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a belt drive turntable?
A belt drive turntable uses an elastic belt to connect the motor to the platter, rather than driving the platter directly. This helps isolate the platter from motor vibration and noise, which can benefit clarity and low-level detail. All three Takumi turntables at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada are belt drive designs, including the TT Level 1.1, the TT Level 2.1 DC with SpeedPod, and the TT Level 3.1 with DC motor.
Is belt drive or direct drive better?
Neither is simply better; they suit different priorities. Belt drive designs are favored by many listeners for isolating motor vibration from the platter, which can help with quiet backgrounds and detail retrieval, and they are a popular choice for home hi-fi listening. Direct drive is often chosen where instant speed stability and DJ use matter most. Takumi focuses on belt drive turntables built for music listening.
Which Takumi turntable should I choose?
It depends on your system and how far you want to take it. The TT Level 1.1 is the accessible starting point as a belt drive turntable, the TT Level 2.1 DC adds a DC motor and SpeedPod for refined speed control, and the TT Level 3.1 is the step up with a DC motor belt drive design. Tell us about your cartridge and phono stage and we will help you match one.
What is a moving coil (MC) cartridge, and why does Takumi use low output designs?
In a moving coil cartridge, the coils themselves move within a fixed magnet, which allows very low moving mass and often finer detail retrieval. Low output MC cartridges produce a smaller signal, so they need a phono stage with enough gain, or a step-up transformer, to perform their best. Every Takumi cartridge, including the AKA, KURO, SHIRO, KIN, and flagship MYO, is a low output MC design.
Is a moving coil cartridge better than a moving magnet?
Neither is automatically better; they suit different systems and budgets. Moving coil cartridges like the Takumi range are chosen by listeners who want the last degree of resolution and have a compatible phono stage with the right gain and loading. Moving magnet cartridges are more accessible and usually offer a user replaceable stylus. We can help you confirm your phono stage suits a low output MC cartridge.
Which Takumi cartridge is right for me?
The Takumi cartridge line rises from the AKA, through the KURO, SHIRO, and KIN, up to the flagship MYO, all low output MC designs. The right choice depends on your turntable, tonearm, and phono stage. Share your setup with our team at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada and we will recommend the best fit.
Do I need a special phono stage for a Takumi cartridge?
Because Takumi cartridges are low output moving coil designs, you will want a phono stage that offers moving coil (MC) gain and the correct loading, or a step-up transformer feeding a moving magnet input. If you are not sure whether your current phono stage suits a low output MC cartridge, we are glad to help you check.
Where can I buy Takumi in Canada?
Vinyl Sound is your source for Takumi turntables and cartridges in Toronto, Canada, with shipping across Canada. Ordering from us means genuine Takumi products with support for setup and matching.
