How to Replace a Stylus or Phono Cartridge

The most common reason for a record collection to lay dormant or for a record player to be put in storage is either a broken or worn stylus. Lets go over the basics of what parts are attached to the end of the tone arm on the record player or turntable, and how you can go about replacing them.

The Headshell - This is the body that connects to the tone arm and houses the phono cartidge and stylus It has usually has four wires that connect to the phono cartridge.

The Phono Cartrige - Is both screwed with two top screws and wired with four coloured wires to the headsell.

The Stylus - this is the needle itself attached to a very small piece of plastic that is inserted into the phono cartridge.

So you may wonder why you would want to go to the effort of replacing a your turntables stylus instead of the entire cartridge unit. If oyu take an average quality Stanton cartridge valued at about $80 will run you $160 if you are replacing both phono cartridges on a dj set up. Your alternative solution is to replace the stylus and use the old cartridge and headshell. A stylus for a stanton cartridge runs about $25, $50 for the pair giving you a $110 savings by a very simple procedure.

Replacing the Turntable Cartridge

This is an explination of replacing those box stly cartriges. To replace a cartridge simply turn off and unplug the turntable, now unscrew the headshell off of the tone arm. Now remove the two screws in the top of the headshell to detach the cartridge. Carefully detach the four coloured wires from the cartridge. your new cartrige should be colour coded to match the wired, once the wires are attached screw the new cartridge into the headshell and place the
headshell back onto the tonal arm.

Replacing you Record Players Stylus (Needle)

This procedure is rather simple, find a replacement stylus the are lots of resurces on the web just google the stylus model of your worn or broken stylus or look up the specs on your cartidge. Now once you have your stylus carefully pull on the plastic bit that holds the sylus. It should slide out easy and replacing it just as straight forward. Make sure all of your equipment is unplugged before under going the replacing or maintence of any of your audio gear.