Comparing Elements of Turntable Construction, Kindly requesting your help in building a turntable comparison chart. Options

[Knowzy]

Greetings HydrogenAudio.

USB turntables, as many around here are aware, range in quality from poor to decent. I'm setting out to create comparison charts detailed enough to find the gems in a sea of lightweight plastic and ceramic carts. Once the guide is more presentable, I plan to give HA an exclusive sneak preview.

What follows are the elements I'm considering for chart #3, "Turntable Construction," along with the possible values.

Is there anything else I should be considering? Are there any elements not worth comparing or combinable with other elements? Am I using correct terminology?

I greatly appreciate your informed input.

• Drive
  • Belt
  • Direct
• Cartridge Type
  • Ceramic
  • Moving Magnet
  • Moving Coil (no USB TT's feature these)
• Plinth/Body (really having trouble succinctly comparing this)
  • Lightweight plastic/No isolation
  • Heavy plastic/Rubber
  • Metal/Rubber
  • Wood/Rubber
• Anti-skate/Counterweight
  • Yes
  • No
• Edit: Removed tonearm shape, combined counterweight with anti-skate (thanks for setting me straight Axon)
• Mount Type
  • Half-inch
  • P-Type
  • Edit: Bayonet (thanks Axon)
  • Edit: Universal (thanks Axon)
  • Edit: Proprietary (thanks Axon)
• Stylus Type Edit: Added more types
  • Conical
  • Elliptical
  • Spherical
  • Linear Contact
  • MicroLine
  • MicroRidge
    
• Dustcover
  • Plastic
  • Cloth
  • None
• Adjustable Feet for Leveling?
  • Yes
  • No
• Tonearm cue?
  • Yes
  • No
• Tonearm Auto return?
  • Yes
  • No
• Edit: Specs (If Available) (Chart #4: Specifications)
  • Wow and Flutter
  • Signal to Noise Ratio
  • Rumble
  • Dimensions
  • Weight
  Edit: Pitch Control (chart #2) (thanks Axon)
  • +/- X%

This post has been edited by Knowzy: Aug 21 2008, 07:03

[Axon]

I'd also like to point out that if one is buying a turntable solely for transcription, a lot of the finer issues on wear become less of an issue. The lack of antiskate - and potentially even the use of a straight arm - become a lot less objectionable if one is only going to play the record once or twice before putting it back on the shelf. While measurable wear can occur after one play in those kinds of situations, it very well may be inaudible. Of course, ceramics/crystals are still a crime against music.