A:AnswerNo, this is a fully manual turntable. One has to place the stylus on the vinyl at the start, lift it and place it in the arm rest when done.
It has a nice up and down level with damped quing to let the arm down softly.
A:AnswerIt’s a pretty simple job that takes less than 5 minutes. Pull old one off and snap new one in place. Make sure you do use a compatible cartridge (that’s how the needle is sold nowadays). There are several youtube videos to help you do this and set up the turntable properly.
A:AnswerThis may sound harsh, but I feel like analog audio is best enjoyed without any filters of electronic interference or other compression.
Ie: find a quality audio cable system that works for you, a solid set of speakers, and really embrace the pure sound you're getting from a record - it's the pure wave through analog audio - no distortions, compressions, digital wonkiness. Pure music.
A:AnswerMy speakers are so last century. I don't know what is on the market now. Everybody is finicky about what they like and what fits with their system and room. A 50 to 100 watt amplifier with 50 to 100 watt speakers should be good for home use. Get active bass, mid-range, and tweeter. I like Pioneer stereo speakers, and a 10 band stereo EQ is helpful.
Everybody has surround sound for their TV. This turntable has a line out so you can plug it into a Tape/CD input on an amplifier. Most new amplifiers are going strictly HDMI now.