Audiokio Productions

VINYL RECORDS – NEEDLES, SLIPMATS, AND MORE (PT 3)

So you’ve got a record player. It didn’t come with a needle, did it? Hope you saved a little money because having a decent cartridge may be even more important than having a good record player.
A cheap record player shouldn’t destroy your records (unless you have a tracking problem and/or you overload the tonearm with weight). A bad needle can give poor sound quality, shred your records, and make other records unplayable. Some hip hop records in particular are pressed so lightly that they may skip grooves unless you have a quality needle and cartridge.

First, let’s define some terms. The needle (or stylus) actually makes contact with the record. A cartridge holds the needle and converts the stylus’ vibrations into an electrical signal. A headshell attaches to the cartridge and also the tonearm. The tonearm (or turntable arm) is the long lever that moves across the record.

Your record player probably came with a headshell. Most headshells have 4 pins: take a glance into the open end of your tonearm (or unscrew the headshell if it’s attached) and you’ll see four metal contacts on each. You can attach a cartridge (which comes with a needle) to your turntable’s headshell, attaching the wires and screws yourself, or you can buy a cartridge already mounted on a headshell for an extra $20. If you already have a decent cartridge but need a new stylus, a replacement needle can be purchased.

What’s a good cartridge/needle for your turntable? If you have less than $50 to spend, the Stanton 500 series is a solid choice. It is known as a good cartridge for beginner DJs (it can take a beating!). If you can spend a little more you may want to get a Shure M44-7. This classic DJ needle has very high output and will stick to even the tiniest grooves, among other positive attributes. Ortofon also makes a number of excellent cartridges.

Speaking of DJing, if you’re planning to do a little scratching you will want to get a slipmat. A common misconception among new DJs is that scratching is accomplished by manipulating the rotating platter (the turntable). This is incorrect and can damage your turntable. What you’re supposed to do is move the record back and forth while the platter keeps rotating! In other words, you’re moving the record itself, not the record player. A slippery mat can help reduce the friction between the turntable and the vinyl, protecting your records and the turntable itself. So put aside the thick rubber mat that came with your $400 Technics SL 1200 and grab some Butter Rugs. Thin, quiet, and slippery they are well worth $20 a pair.

You have your turntable, you have your cartridge, needle and slipmat. Okay there’s one final and very important step: integrating the record player into your existing sound system. If your turntable has line-level outputs, (like the Numark TTX1, the Ion Audio iTTUSB, and the Numark PT-01) you can run it into most systems. If your turntable has only phono outputs, you either need a sound system that accepts phono inputs (and provides grounding) or a phono preamp that makes the signal line-compatible. For a phono preamp you can either use a DJ style mixer or get a standalone model like the ART DeeJay Pre for under $50.

Hook it all up, properly balance the tonearm, and apply the appropriate weight for your phono cartridge! You’re ready to listen to some records. Next time we’ll explore where to find them.