Glossary · Turntables
Wow & Flutter
Speed inconsistency you can hear as pitch waver.
Wow (slow) and flutter (fast) are speed variations that smear pitch, most audible on sustained piano or vocal notes. Measured as a percentage, lower is better — good decks sit well under 0.1% WRMS. It’s a core spec in our turntable reviews.
Terms on the same stage
Tracking Force (VTF)
The downward weight the stylus presses into the groove, in grams.
Anti-Skate
Force that counters the tonearm’s inward pull toward the spindle.
VTA
Vertical tracking angle — the tonearm’s height at the pivot.
Azimuth
The vertical, side-to-side alignment of the stylus in the groove.
Overhang
How far the stylus sits past the spindle when swung over.
Null Point
The two radii where a pivoted arm has zero tracking error.
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