Fully automatic turntables
Music at the push of a button
In the heyday of turntable building, fully automatic models were considered the ne plus ultra. Today they have become rare – and yet many music lovers are rediscovering their advantages: one push of a button and the turntable does the rest.
Sit back and listen
The turntable takes care of setting down and lifting the tonearm.
Precise set-down instead of unsteady hands – this spares stylus and record.
Ideal for family, guests and anyone who likes things simple.
Mechanics with decades of development history.
From ne plus ultra to rarity
In the heyday of turntable building, fully automatic models were the measure of all things. Convenient decks, some even with record changers, stood in countless living rooms. Today only a few manufacturers still build them – for understandable reasons:
Today, record players are mainly found in the audiophile segment, where purists want to avoid any mechanical intervention in the delicate tracking process.
A reliable automatic mechanism requires a great deal of know-how and precision – often too complex and costly for the many small manufacturers producing in small batches.
Nevertheless, many customers today once again see clear advantages in fully automatic turntables – above all, everyday convenience.
How a fully automatic turntable works
With a fully automatic turntable you need neither set down the tonearm nor lift it again at the end. Precise mechanics or electronics take over the entire process:
- —Start at the push of a button: The platter starts, the tonearm lifts and swings to the lead-in groove.
- —Gentle set-down: The arm lowers in a damped way exactly at the edge of the record – depending on the model, for 30 cm and 17 cm records.
- —Undisturbed listening: During the record side the automatic mechanism is disengaged; the tonearm follows the groove freely.
- —Automatic end: In the run-out groove the arm lifts, returns to its rest and the motor switches off.
- —Stop at any time: The stop button ends playback safely – the arm returns by itself.
| Feature | Manual | Semi-automatic | Fully automatic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting down the tonearm | By hand, usually via the lift | By hand | Automatically |
| At the end of the record | Lift off by hand | Arm lifts and returns | Arm lifts and returns |
| Mechanics at the tonearm | None additional | Some | The most |
| Ideal for | Purists and sound-focused listeners | Convenience at the end of the record | Maximum convenience |
The advantages of a fully automatic turntable
The convenience of neither setting down the tonearm nor lifting it again after the record has finished wins many people over. There are further advantages too:
Put on the record, press the button, sit back – that’s all there is to it.
Precise, damped set-down prevents slipping and scratches from unsteady hands.
Ideal for anyone who finds fine handling of the tonearm difficult.
Children and guests can use the turntable without risk too.
Sound & mechanics – an honest look
In the high-end world, no one wants mechanical intervention in the delicate tracking process – which is why manual turntables dominate there. A well-designed fully automatic turntable, however, disengages its mechanism during playback so the tonearm can follow the groove freely. For everyday use:
- —Good design matters: Precisely made automatic mechanisms work quietly and reliably and barely affect the sound while listening.
- —Choose the cartridge carefully: Weight and tracking force should suit the tonearm and the automatic mechanism.
- —Care pays off: Like any mechanism, the automatic benefits from occasional servicing by specialists.
- —The sonic foundation: Deck, tonearm, cartridge and alignment determine the sound – just as with any other turntable.
Dual – the tradition of automatic turntables
Dual in particular has always been dedicated to this technology. With its roots in the Black Forest, the brand shaped the history of the convenience turntable for decades – and still builds fully automatic turntables in this tradition today:
Decades of developing automatic turntables and record changers.
Well-designed automatic mechanisms that reliably set down, lift off and return.
Timeless turntables reminiscent of the great era of the record player.
Advice & your benefits at Klangheimat
Whether your first turntable or a convenient second player for the kitchen – we help you find the right fully automatic model.
We ask about your music, your room and your system – and recommend what really suits you.
Since our founding as a vinyl shop, we have lived and breathed records and turntables.
On request, we mount and align your cartridge professionally.
Frequently asked questions about fully automatic turntables
What is the difference between semi- and fully automatic?
On a semi-automatic you set the tonearm down by hand; only the lift-off at the end is automatic. A fully automatic also takes over the start: at the push of a button the tonearm swings to the lead-in groove and lowers itself.
Do fully automatic turntables sound worse than manual ones?
Not necessarily. Good fully automatic turntables disengage their mechanism during playback. Purists still prefer manual turntables because, in principle, there are no additional mechanics on the tonearm. What matters is deck, tonearm, cartridge and alignment.
How does the turntable know where to set down?
On most fully automatic models you select the record size or speed beforehand. The arm then swings exactly to the matching lead-in groove for 30 cm or 17 cm records.
Can I change the cartridge?
On many models, yes. Make sure weight and recommended tracking force suit the tonearm. The set-down point of the automatic may need readjusting – we are happy to advise you.
Do fully automatic turntables need servicing?
Like any mechanism, they benefit from occasional care. On older units, lubricants can gum up over the years – the automatic should then be professionally cleaned and relubricated.
Who is a fully automatic turntable suitable for?
For anyone who wants to enjoy music conveniently: beginners, families, listeners who find setting down by hand difficult, and anyone who plays records in the background. Fully automatic turntables are also very popular as second players.
Do I need a phono stage?
Yes, unless your amplifier has a phono input or your turntable has a built-in phono stage. It amplifies the very weak cartridge signal and equalises it according to the RIAA curve.
Why are there so few fully automatic turntables today?
The mechanics are complex and expensive to develop. Many of today’s manufacturers are small workshops building mainly manual high-end turntables in small batches. Dual is one of the brands still keeping the automatic tradition alive.
Discover our fully automatic turntables now – for music at the push of a button.
Not sure which turntable suits you? Get in touch – we will gladly advise you.
