What is a turntable stylus?

The stylus is the needle that rests against the record. Besides diamonds, sapphires are also commonly used for record needles. The stylus is connected to the tonearm by a flexible strip of metal. The flexibility in the middle allows for the stylus to ride up and down within the record grooves.

How does a phono stylus work?

A turntable stylus reads the grooves in a vinyl record. The stylus, or needle, vibrates as it tracks the grooves. The vibrations are carried through a small metal rod to the inside of the cartridge containing a moving magnet or coil.

Do all stylus work on all turntables?

If you plan to replace only the stylus, then all you need to do is find a compatible stylus with the desired needle shape. While the manufacturer likely has its own selection to pick from, other companies make and sell replacement styli for all different models of turntables.

How often should I replace turntable stylus?

around 1000 hours
Most manufacturers recommend changing your stylus at around 1000 hours of record playing time. So if you’re using your turntable for an hour or so per day on average, ideally you should be changing the stylus every couple of years.

Are phono cartridges universal?

Moving coil, moving magnet, and ceramic cartridges are all electrically different from one another and are not interchangeable without other considerations. This is because in most cases amplifiers are designed to work with only one type of phono cartridge.

Can I use any stylus on my turntable?

Yes and no. While any record player needle will work to convert vibrations created by groove shape into sound, the best needles are durable (either nude diamond or diamond tipped), small, and have a large surface area. Vinyl and shellac both use grooves to record audio, so most cartridges will work.

How long does a phono stylus last?

When does a turntable stylus need to be replaced? Most manufacturers recommend changing your stylus at around 1000 hours of record playing time. So if you’re using your turntable for an hour or so per day on average, ideally you should be changing the stylus every couple of years.

Do phono cartridges go bad?

Yes, cartridges can go bad over time, mostly by their suspensions getting hard and brittle.

Are expensive phono cartridges worth it?

The more high-end cartridges however are only focused on the audiophiles that are willing to spend a lot more, making it a rather small niche. Because of this low demand setting up a whole automated production line, which actually needs way more attention to detail, is in most cases not worth the cost.

What kind of Stylus does a phono cartridge use?

The AT-OC9XSL Dual Moving Coil cartridge with special line contact stylus is designed to provide ou.. $729.00 This VM95 Series cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus fits half-inch mount turntables. Th..

What’s the size of the stylus on a turntable?

Its spherical tip, typically with a radius of 0.7 mil, touches the center of the groove walls. The conical stylus can be found with lower to moderately priced turntables. At LP Gear we specialize in replacement needles and styli. We stock these for both old and new cartridges.

What kind of cartridge does a Shibata stylus use?

The AT-OC9XSH Dual Moving Coil cartridge with Shibata stylus is designed to provide outstanding cha.. The AT-OC9XSL Dual Moving Coil cartridge with special line contact stylus is designed to provide ou.. $729.00 This VM95 Series cartridge with 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical stylus fits half-inch mount turntables.

How often should I replace my stylus needle?

We recommend that you purchase at least two replacement styli especially if you are buying for an older cartridge. Manufacturers have been phasing out many replacement styli through the years and so the next time you need one for your older cartridge you may not be able to find it.

What is a turntable stylus? The stylus is the needle that rests against the record. Besides diamonds, sapphires are also commonly used for record needles. The stylus is connected to the tonearm by a flexible strip of metal. The flexibility in the middle allows for the stylus to ride up and down within the record…