Sourcing And Purchasing Turntable Needles

By Stephen Schmidt


A lot of people have large music collections on record and will need a deck to play their vinyl. Modern day music is usually sold on CD or downloaded as an mp3 track and some spare parts for audio equipment can be tricky to locate. If you need to find and buy turntable needles, you will have to find a supplier that can sell you product that is compatible with your existing stylus.

A good quality needle is an important part of a record player because it translates the music from the grooves in the disc into sound. A worn out or damaged stylus will never produce quality audio and will also seriously damage to your records. There is a huge range of styluses and it imperative that you find a compatible item when you need a replacement.

A good starting point when searching for a stylus is to visit an audio dealer that can be found in many large towns and cities. Most of these professional retailers will have staff that will help you find what you are looking for from their comprehensive stock. If the audio dealers are unable to find a suitable match they can contact a manufacturer for you and possibly order a stylus for you.

Searching the web can also produce some good results and there are many audio retailers who trade online. It is useful to have the make and serial number of the stylus you are looking for which will make it easier to browse their pages of stock. If you do not have any details, some of the sites will ask you to send them a decent photo of your needle, and they will try to locate a suitable match.

When an internet supplier or high street dealer is unable to help, you can look at one of the web auction sites that are operating. Most of the sites will have pages needles and they will publish a good quality picture and the spec of the item. If you are not sure that the item listed is suitable, you can email the seller or send them an instant message, before you make an offer or enter a bid.

If you are finding it difficult to find a replacement needle you can contact the manufacturer of your turntable if they are still in business. Many of the factories will be able to supply needles for new and old stock if they have them. If they do not have a stylus in stock, which matches yours, they may advise you on where to try and find a match.

It is preferable to use a manufacturer original stylus when possible. Aftermarket needles are available and they will usually perform well but some caution should be exercised when using non original items. When you are buying, it is well worth taking your old needle with you, so that you can compare it to any potential purchases.

Record player needles are very fragile and it is important to care for them properly. When you purchase a brand new stylus it should be kept in the box until you fit it to your record deck. Always keep any receipts in case you need to exchange or return your stylus to the retailer.




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