Is it time to replace the stylus?
A stylus wears slowly, so the change is easy to miss. Ortofon's FAQ lists the typical signs of a worn or damaged stylus: more distortion on voices and strings, especially toward the end of a side, and high frequencies that lose clarity. A bent cantilever or a stylus that was knocked is a reason to replace straight away, because a damaged tip can harm records.
If you are unsure, start with our guides on how long a stylus lasts and cleaning a stylus. A dirty tip can sound like a worn one.
Find the exact replacement
The stylus belongs to the cartridge, so start with the cartridge model. It is usually printed on the cartridge body or listed in your turntable's manual. On most moving magnet cartridges, the stylus and the thin cantilever that carries it come off as one unit, so you swap that unit rather than the whole cartridge; Wikipedia's article on magnetic cartridges describes the design.
- Check the cartridge maker's list of replacement styli for your model.
- Note the stylus shape, such as conical or elliptical, if there is a choice.
- Moving coil cartridges usually have no pull-off stylus; their manual explains how they are serviced.
- Third-party styli exist for many cartridges; Audio-Technica says it cannot vouch for ones it has not tested.
Prepare the turntable
Stop the platter
Put the tonearm on its rest, switch the turntable off and unplug it. Lock the arm clip if your turntable has one.
Fit the stylus guard
Audio-Technica notes that the swap is easier with the guard on: it gives more to grip and protects the needle.
Get light and space
Work in good light with nothing on the platter. Some people remove the headshell, if it detaches, and work on a soft cloth.
Remove the old stylus and fit the new one
Designs differ, so look at the drawing in your cartridge manual first. The movement is usually the same: forward and down to remove, back and up to fit. Audio-Technica's instructions for the AT-LP60 series and the AT-VMx cartridge manual both describe it this way.
Steady the cartridge
Hold the headshell or tonearm with one hand so the arm cannot swing or bend.
Pull the old stylus off
Grip the stylus body by its sides, tilt the front down and pull it forward. It can be tight the first time.
Line up the new one
Look for the tab or protrusion on the new stylus and the slot it goes into on the cartridge body.
Push it home
Insert the rear first, then swing it back and up until it clicks. There should be no gap between the stylus body and the cartridge or headshell.
Never touch the tip
Keep fingers away from the diamond and the thin cantilever it sits on throughout.
Check tracking force and test
A new stylus can need a different tracking force from the old one, especially if you moved to another model in the same series. The AT-VMx manual asks owners to confirm the tracking force for the stylus they fit. Check the value in the specifications and set it on the counterweight, as our guide to tracking force and anti-skate explains.
- Remove the stylus guard and brush the tip gently, back to front.
- Play a record you know well at normal volume.
- Listen for even sound in both channels and no extra hiss or distortion.
- Fit the guard again whenever you are not playing; Ortofon gives the same advice.
Start counting hours on the new stylus
The best time to start tracking stylus life is the day you fit a new one. In the CrateCore app, add the cartridge to the cartridge tracker and enter the rated life its maker gives. Then tap a side or an album after each listen, or add the time by hand, and the tracker shows how much of that rated life you have used and warns you when it runs low.
The tracker counts the time you record; it does not inspect the diamond. Treat it as a reminder to check the stylus, and let your ears and a magnifier make the final call.