Start-Up Time
The time a turntable takes to bring its platter from rest to the stated playback speed.
Startup time describes acceleration to normal running speed. It is separate from electrical warm-up, automatic tonearm movement and the delay before music begins after pressing a start button.
Start-Up Time — Turntable
For a Turntable, a shorter startup time makes the platter ready sooner after it has stopped. Adjustable acceleration lets the user choose how quickly it reaches speed, which can matter during cueing or performance.
Read the time with the target speed and any stated setting. A result at 33⅓ rpm need not apply at 45 or 78 rpm. A specification expressed in platter rotations is not already a time in seconds.
Compare measurements made under equivalent conditions, including any specified platter load. Fast starting does not establish low wow and flutter or accurate steady playback. For ordinary listening, the practical question is whether the platter reaches stable speed before the stylus begins playing.