![]() However, you might not be able to do both. If you’re looking to upgrade your turntable’s stylus, you might be thinking about upgrading its cartridge too. ![]() Anything that’s going to cause excess friction, like dust or dirt stuck in a record’s grooves, can potentially damage the stylus and thus negatively impact the audio quality as well. The easiest way to extend to the lifespan of a turntable’s stylus is to simply take care of it - and to also take care of your records. Are there ways to extend the life of a stylus? Some more expensive styluses can have 5-times that lifespan, however. Most manufacturers recommend you think about replacing the stylus after 150 or 200 hours of playtime. Obviously, the more you use the turntable, the quicker the stylus will get worn down. Most styluses are made of either diamond or sapphire, two of the hardest natural materials on the planet, so they’re not something you’re going to have to think about replacing all too frequently. You don’t know the condition of a used stylus, or how it’s been used, and a damaged stylus could damage your records. If that’s happening, your stylus needs replacing.Īnd if you buy a used turntable, you should always replace its stylus. Even if you can’t see any distortion, you might notice that the stylus is actually skipping or jumping out of the record grooves when it’s playing. First, check to see if it’s crooked or otherwise misshapen. On the physical side, there are a few ways to notice if your stylus is damaged. Basically, if your records aren’t sounding like they used to - check your turntable’s stylus. You’ll hear more distortion, crackling, static and overall fuzziness. On the audible side, your records won’t sound as good if your stylus is old or damaged. There are both audible and physical indicators that will let you know that you’re stylus should be replaced. How do you know when stylus should be replaced? You’ll have to replace it sometime down the road. The whole process relies on friction between the stylus and the record being played - and eventually the stylus will get dull and wear down. ![]() If you have an automatic turntable, the stylus (and tonearm) will even drop itself for you.īut, like anything else, a stylus is subject to wear and tear over time. Essentially, they are plug-and-play machines - you just place the record, drop the stylus and then you’re in business. Today’s entry-level turntables come equipped with everything needed to actually play records, including their own tonearm, counterweight, cartridge and stylus. The cartridge then turns those vibrations into electrical signals, which are then amplified (by a separate amplifier or the turntable’s built-in pre-amp) and then transmitted to your speakers. When the stylus is placed on a spinning record, it then rides along the record’s grooves, picking up and relaying the vibrations through the tonearm and to the cartridge. It’s the connective tissue between the record player and the actual record - without it, a turntable is just a spinning platter. The stylus, or what you might call the needle, is a vital component of any turntable.
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