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What does a bad needle sound like on a record player?

February 18th, 2010 by admin

I don’t know how to tell if my needle is done with or not. It makes a subtle scratch noise every few seconds, or I’d imagine once every revolution. You think that’s the needle? Everything else sounds fine otherwise.

The stylus on phono cartridges honestly don’t go bad on cartridges its the suspension which is generally made of rubber that supports the cantilever that goes bad by long term play and or the pollutants in the air that break down the rubber. What you will notice is mistraking or skipping especially during loud passages.

That is assuming the turntable is properly adjusted as well and that the proper cartridge was selected for the turntables arm. All cartridges have different compliance which is the measurement of the cartridges resistance to up and down and side to side movement. The Cartridge must match properly to the tonearms mass. Its kinda like matching shocks to a car, heavy car less give or compliance, lighter car more give or compliance. A Specialty audio dealer can help you match the proper cartridge to your turntable.

A few things to check first before buying a new cartridge.

First thing to determine if the cartridge is bad the stylus has no resistance up and down. Very carefully put your finger on the stylus and gently pushing up on the stylus does the stylus have some resistance. As the rubber that supports the cantilever wears or deteriorates cantilever no longer is able to give the support needed as the stylus tracks the groves.

Check the tracking force. With my many years of setting up and calibrating turntables, I have found 1.85 grams to be a ideal tracking force for most cartridges.

Check your antiskating. This is a adjustment that counter acts the ccentrifugal force that causes the arm to want to go inward. There are many advanced ways to set this adjustment, and no just setting it to the same as your tracking force is not the correct way to set it. If you have a glass plater or record with no groves carefully place the stylus on the surfice and adjust the antiskating till the cartridge just barely moves inward. That will get you close with out the proper test gear you will not be able to adjust it optimally.

any other questions feel free to ask
Kevin

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2 Responses to “What does a bad needle sound like on a record player?”

  1. #1
    TV guy
    February 18th, 2010 3:25 pm

    It is possible there is a big scratch on the disc. Try the other side or another disc.
    When the needle is bad, it is bad all the time.
    References :

  2. #2
    Kevin L
    February 18th, 2010 4:00 pm

    The stylus on phono cartridges honestly don’t go bad on cartridges its the suspension which is generally made of rubber that supports the cantilever that goes bad by long term play and or the pollutants in the air that break down the rubber. What you will notice is mistraking or skipping especially during loud passages.

    That is assuming the turntable is properly adjusted as well and that the proper cartridge was selected for the turntables arm. All cartridges have different compliance which is the measurement of the cartridges resistance to up and down and side to side movement. The Cartridge must match properly to the tonearms mass. Its kinda like matching shocks to a car, heavy car less give or compliance, lighter car more give or compliance. A Specialty audio dealer can help you match the proper cartridge to your turntable.

    A few things to check first before buying a new cartridge.

    First thing to determine if the cartridge is bad the stylus has no resistance up and down. Very carefully put your finger on the stylus and gently pushing up on the stylus does the stylus have some resistance. As the rubber that supports the cantilever wears or deteriorates cantilever no longer is able to give the support needed as the stylus tracks the groves.

    Check the tracking force. With my many years of setting up and calibrating turntables, I have found 1.85 grams to be a ideal tracking force for most cartridges.

    Check your antiskating. This is a adjustment that counter acts the ccentrifugal force that causes the arm to want to go inward. There are many advanced ways to set this adjustment, and no just setting it to the same as your tracking force is not the correct way to set it. If you have a glass plater or record with no groves carefully place the stylus on the surfice and adjust the antiskating till the cartridge just barely moves inward. That will get you close with out the proper test gear you will not be able to adjust it optimally.

    any other questions feel free to ask
    Kevin
    References :

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