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Frequently Asked Questions
Copyrights
All images and content on this website is protected by international copyrights.
Originals Or OEM
Please note that most if not all original manufacturers have now stopped making styli for their record players. The styli we supply are therefore not originals unless specifically stated.
Our styli are made in our factories in the United Kingdom, Europe and the Far East to the highest possible original manufacturers specifications and are as good as if not better than the originals.
As a further point of reassurance, we have sold these for over 25 years and all our styli are supplied with a 12 month warranty.
If however you are unhappy in any way with your purchase, we will offer a full refund including your return postage.
Your statutory rights are not affected.
Delivery
Most of the products listed on this website are in stock. For UK orders - please allow at least 5 working days from date of order. For urgent UK orders, please call us on 01474 873647 and we can arrange overnight delivery via Royal Mail 'Special Delivery' system. For European orders and orders from the rest of the world, please allow 5 - 7 working days for delivery.
VAT
Value Added Tax (VAT) is chargeable by Law to all our products for delivery addresses in the United Kingdom and European Union (EEC) countries.
Our website will calculate the correct VAT element of your order at the 'Checkout' stage of the order process.
For orders with delivery addresses outside of the United Kingdom and EEC countries, our website will exempt this tax at the 'Checkout' stage of the order process.
What Is A Stylus
A stylus, styli or needle as it is commonly known is a piece of plastic which contains a needle (cantilever) and fits into a cartridge located at the front end of the record player arm. The 'needle' is fitted to the plastic body with high precision engineering and must not be touched as it can be easily dislodged and or damaged. The point of the needle or cantilever is tipped with a diamond or sapphire to make it last longer. The needle tracks the sound contained in the grooves of the record as it spins on the platter. The cantilever or needle creates high velocity vibration as it tracks the record. This vibration is subsequently transmitted via the cartridge, amplifier and finally to the speakers. Due to friction between the point of the needle and the grooves in the records, the stylus will eventually wear out. The best way to judge the replacement of the stylus is when your records sound unnaturally muffled or you hear excessive crackling.
What Is A Headshell
At the front end of the record player arm there will be a headshell. The headshell is fitted to the end of the arm to enable easy lifting of the arm to place it gently on to the record as it spins on the platter. Some automatic record players however may not have this as the machine does it by itself.
What Is A Cartridge
A cartridge is fitted underneath the headshell or at the front end of the turntable arm. There are many types of cartridges. The most common ones are moving magnet, moving coil, V shaped magnet, twin magnet and ceramic.
The cartridge is engineered to pick up the smallest of vibrations from the point of the needle which is fitted on the stylus.
How To Change A Stylus
1. Place the record player at head height.
2. Remove the old stylus:
The are many different types of styli and methods of assembly. However the most common way to replace a stylus is to hold it between the forefinger and thumb and gently pull the front end of the stylus downwards and towards yourself. Please note that if the old stylus has not been changed for many years it may need a gentle sideways rock or twist. Do not use excessive force as the cartridge may get dislodged from the headshell or get damaged.
3. Replace new stylus:
Hold the new stylus between your forefinger and thumb without touching the needle and reverse the procedure as above.
How To Change A Record Player Cartridge
1. Remove the old cartridge and stylus from the headshell. The old cartridge is normally fitted to the headshell by two screws and nuts. Retain these as they may come in useful if the new cartridge assembly did not come with any.
2. Remove the stylus from the new cartridge if one is fitted on it. This may avoid damage to it in the process of fitting the new cartridge on to the headshell.
3. Some record players have four wires leading from the end of the arm. If a cartridge is being upgraded or changed, the four wires are reconnected as follows:
Viewing the back end of the cartridge facing towards you
Top Left Plug: Left output - white wire
Top Right Plug: Right output - red wire
Bottom Left Plug: Left ground - blue wire
Bottom Right Plug: Right ground - Green wire
4. Fit the cartridge on to the headshell with the two screws.
5. Fit the stylus on to the cartridge.
How To Change A Record Player Drive Belt
1 Switch the turntable off at the mains.
2 Remove the slip mat off the platter.
3 Lift the platter off the spindle.
4 Remove the old belt from the record player.
5 Turn the platter upside down and measure the diameter of the inner rim in millimeters.
6 Measure the width of the old belt in millimeters or in the absence of the old belt, measure the approximate width of the spindle on the drive shaft on the motor. Usually this is between 2 - 5 mm.
7 Match the diameter and width on our website to order your replacement drive belt.
8 On receipt of the new belt, place it flat on the inner rim of the platter.
9 Turn the platter the right way up and guide it gently back on to the spindle on the record player.
10 The platter is usually designed with at least one or two holes in it. Wedge a biro between the belt and the rim through one of the holes and stretch the belt with the biro so that it fits over the drive shaft of the motor.
11 Replace the slip mat.
How To Stop The Stylus From Skating Across The Records
If your record player arm is fitted with a counter weight at the back end of the arm, try adjusting this by quarter to half point at a time.
This normally cures the problem if the stylus is in good condition.
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