Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Locating And Purchasing Replacement Turntable Needles

By Jason Martin


A lot of music fans will own a collection of vinyl discs and will need a record deck in order to listen to them. Modern music that is released is now sold in digital format for download or on CD and styluses for a record player are often difficult to come by. When you are trying to find and buy replacement turntable needles, you will have to find a suitable supplier that can sell you the correct type.

The needle or cartridge is one of the most important part of your deck as it picks up the sound from grooves in the disc to make a sound that is audible. When a needle is worn or damaged it will produce an inferior sound and will scratch, or in some cases, destroy your records. There are many needles on the market and it is essential to find a compatible one for your equipment.

One of the best places to buy your needle is from one of the professional audio stores that are available. These outlets will have very knowledgeable staff who will assist you in finding a compatible stylus for new and old record decks. If they do not have your needle, they can often order one from a manufacturer for you.

Web based audio retailers are also a great place to buy from and there are a large number of internet suppliers. Before you place an online order, you should note the serial number or manufacturer of your stylus which makes it much easier to search their pages of stock. Buying online is usually cost effective as a web based retailer will usually have lower prices than high street retailers.

If a store or internet retailer cannot help, you can try one of the internet auction sites. Many online auctions will have styluses and cartridges listed with a photo and full description and you can place a bid. If you are not sure about a listed item, you can contact the seller and ask for more details, before bidding.

If you own an old turntable you may not be able to source a suitable needle and there are few options available. Visiting junk shops can sometimes produce results as many of them will have old audio equipment for sale. Another option is to speak to an electrician and get them to modify your record player to take a modern cartridge.

You can also try getting in touch with needle manufacturers to see if they sell directly to the public. If your turntable is no longer in production, they may have some old stock that will be suitable. If they cannot supply a stylus, they may recommend one of their approved retailers, or advise you where to continue looking.

A stylus is extremely fragile and it needs to be looked after to avoid damage. Unless you are fitting it to your record player immediately, it should be stored in its box until it is required. Retain your purchase receipt which you will need if you wish to exchange an unsuitable or damaged stylus.




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