How To Replace The Needle On A Record Player

Record players have recently had a resurgence in popularity, with vinyl sales making up 13.7 percent of all physical media sales in 2018. This resurgence has led to more people purchasing a vinyl record player to listen to their records. One of the most important components of any player is the needle, also known as a stylus. The needle converts the groves into music. Over time though, it can wear out which will lead to a reduction in sound quality. But what is the correct procedure to change a needle? Doing this task incorrectly may result in the player getting damaged, which can be costly to repair. Thankfully, this article will explain the best way to replace a needle.

Before we discuss the best method to use to replace needles, let’s talk about why records have made such a big comeback. This is largely because of the superior sound quality that this form of media offers. The music quality that comes from a record player is much better than that which can be gained from listening to CDs or streaming audio files online. Additionally, needing to slide the records onto the needle and flip them over to hear the second half of the album makes the experience feel much more intimate. There is also something special about going into a record store and purchasing your favourite album. This is because many of these stores can foster a community dynamic which brings music lovers together. Finally, DJs also like that vinyl allows them to remix the music. Now that we know a little more about why vinyl record players have increased in popularity, let’s take a closer look at one of the most important components on the machine, the needle.
 
The needle on a record player is essential, without it you cannot get the music from the cassette to the speakers. The needle travels through the grooves in the cassette and converts the tiny bumps into music. But how does it do this? The tiny bumps on the record represent sound waves. As the needle travels across the grooves it picks up the vibrations, therefore the needle moves up and down slightly as the record spins. The needle then carries these vibrations to the cartridge above the needle, where they are converted into an electrical signal. Finally, this signal is sent to the amplifier where a sound is produced. However, this entire process relies on the needle effectively reading the grooves. If the needle gets damaged the record player won’t produce any sound. Therefore, it is important to maintain, and occasionally replace, the needle on a vinyl record player. But how do you know when the needle needs to be replaced?
 
There are many warning signs that it might be time to replace the needle on your vinyl record player. You might notice that your records are making strange noises when you play them. For example, the vocals might appear duller, high notes might sound more muffled or there might be crackling noises. In the later stages there won’t be any sound, as the needle is too worn to make any noise. When this happens, you risk damaging your records or the machine. When the needle is old it will go too deeply in the grooves and scratch the record. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that you change your needle every 1,000 hours. It is also advisable that you replace the needle after purchasing a second hand device. Now that we know a little more about the warning signs that may indicate that the needle needs to be replaced, let’s look at how to change the needle.
Regular maintenance, like replacing the needle, is one of the best ways to extend the life of your record player. To do this, remove the needle from the cartridge by sliding it forward. Then, you need to find a compatible needle. This can usually be done by taking note of the needle manufacturer’s information which can usually be found on the back of the needle. If not, you can take the old stylus into a record store and see if they can find a replacement needle. There are a lot of needles available on the market, generally though, you want to try and get a needle that has a large contact area with the record. With so many different options, it should be easy to find a needle that will fit your machine and suit your budget. Once you have the new needle, slide it into the cartridge slot with the point facing downwards. Some record players, however, require a different method to remove the needle. In these models, you might need to remove the metal tonearm by unlocking the lever. When doing this, be careful not to put too much pressure on the tonearm as it may get bent out of shape. Next, place the replacement needle point down onto the tonearm and slide the tonearm carefully back into the vinyl record player. Regardless of which method you need to use, make sure to clean the slot left by the old needle. To best way to do this is using compressed air. This will remove all the dirt from the slot and ensure that the new needle fits comfortably. Now that we understand how to replace the needle, let’s look at some of the best ways to test the new needle.
 
Once you have replaced the old needle you should test the new one, this will ensure that everything is aligned correctly. To do this, play one of your least favourite records. As it plays you should be looking for warning signs like skipping or popping noises. You should also check that the record isn’t getting scratched. If you notice any of these signs, re-adjust the needle and try again. You should also make sure that the tracking force is in line with the manufacturer’s requirements. If the needle is pressing against the record too forcefully it may damage the record. If, after replacing and adjusting the needle you continue to experience these warning signs you might want to contact a professional. However, these might also be signs that you need to replace the cartridge.
 
While you will need to replace the cartridge less frequently than you will need to replace the needle, it is still an important part of maintaining your vinyl record player. The cartridge is the part of the machine that holds the needle in place. It also converts the needles movements into electrical signals that can be sent to the amplifier. To replace the cartridge, remove the needle. Then, you should be able to slide the cartridge out. You can then put your new cartridge into the vinyl record player. Like needles, there are many kinds of cartridges available. When buying a new one, make sure that you choose a model that is compatible with your record player. You should also try to choose a cartridge that has the same weight at the tonearm. This will ensure that it balances correctly, allowing the needle to more accurately press into the grooves. You should now have a record player that sounds amazing again. There are some simple actions that you can do to make sure that it continues to sound this way for a long time.
 
Maintenance activities like replacing the needle and cartridge are essential to keeping your vinyl record player sounding great. However, there are some activities that you can do to help these components last longer. One of the best ways of doing this is to keep both the needle and the record clean. Dirt can easily transfer from the record to the needle, where it can build up over time. If you wipe down the record before you play it, you will remove most of the dirt. It’s recommended that you clean the needle at least once every two weeks. When cleaning the needle, only use products designed for this purpose as household products may damage either the needle or the cartridge. You should also avoid touching this component with your hands as you might damage the needle’s alignment. Another simple thing you can do to extend the life of your needle is to make sure that the record player is tracking properly. This means that the needle will be putting the optimal amount of force onto each record. This will also ensure that the needle isn’t pushing too hard on the record, which may damage both the needle and the record.
 
The vinyl record player has seen a resurgence in popularity, with more people wanting to listen to records. This is partly because vinyl records have higher sound quality than other forms of media. However, to sustain this high-quality audio, you need to make sure that your record player is maintained regularly. This includes replacing the needle and the cartridge occasionally. We’ve discussed the importance of this procedure and the best way to do it. Hopefully, you will now be able to better maintain your vinyl record player, so you can listen to your records clearly.