Monday, September 26, 2016

What To Know When Replacing Record Player Needles

By Mark Smith


The great vinyl revival is making phonographs trendy again. Generation x and y know this as a record player. This flash back to the past thing is encouraging people to still own turntables and listen to current music with what is supposedly an artifact if compared to what technology has to offer today. Strange on this age of high technology people are regressing to older machines.

Also known as phonographs, record players are more complicated to play music on and are not portable. The personality it gives any room makes it a good bargain despite the cons and maintenance required. Parts like record player needles need replacement and maintenance. This guarantees great music quality from the player and the vinyl.

The first important step is to find the right replacement. It is vital that the new purchased needle is compatible with the machine. Check any instruction documents that are included with the turntable upon its purchase. This may contain information of what specific parts are used. Best to message a phonograph specialty shop, in case the specifications are not provided. Inquire a specialist when you have an antique.

There are other equipment that are strongly recommended for replacing that vital part of the turntable. Although not necessary, prepare nose pliers, in case the stylus gets stuck in the player cartridge. Consider cleaning the cartridge with a can of compressed air before replacing the module with a fresh stylus.

The device has to be turned off and unplugged before the whole process of replacement. This includes built in parts like the speakers and the preamp. You can now lift the tone arm, or remove the cartridge carrier if there is a lever device present. This makes it easier to find the tip and replace it.

Access the stylus by lifting the arm up. Once the part is exposed, carefully remove the stylus by hand. Grip its side firmly but gently enough not to damage the fragile thing. Wriggle it until it loosens and gets removed. Use the pliers if the it gets stuck in the cartridge.

Once you have successfully removed it, make sure to separate the old needle from the new one. Spray the cartridge with the can of compressed air where the old needle is placed. This makes sure there is no dust or debris that remains in the there.

Separately purchased needles may come with their own instructions, so it is best to follow that. Insert the new stylus in the cranny where the old tip was located in the cartridge. Place the metal tip gently with minimal force but enough to fit it in properly. Make sure the pointy end is facing down.

Test the turntable to see if replacing the tip was the issue. Put in a vinyl record and check for abnormalities in sound . There are many other factors that can affect the sound the phonograph produces. If there are still any irregularities, then it could be a different part of the machine. If the problem persists, consult a turntable doctor.




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