How To Install Needle On Record Player

23-05-2021 admin

How To Replace Needle On Record Player Crosley
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How To Install Needle On Record Player

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Record Player Setup: The Basics. Posted by rec@dmin| Jul. Which you stick in the hole at the middle of the record. How to set up a record player. Assuming you have already gathered a phono preamp, receiver, amp with speakers and turntable. Here is what you need to do. Record Player Needles: A Guide Record Player Accessories How the. The steel needle should always contact the record at an angle. (Note: this is an unrestored sound box. For optimal playback and minimal record wear, your sound box should be rebuilt with new gaskets, rear flange, and proper adjustment.

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There has been a lot of mention of the term 'ceramic cartridge' in terms of being a 'vinyl-chewer'. But there's been very little explanation on what it is and how to identify a ceramic cartridge.

A cursory search in Google for 'ceramic cartridge' reveals a ton of links about faucet and sink repair.

In addition, people sometimes refer to a 'ceramic needle', but any record needle seller will show you that ceramic cartridges can come with diamond or sapphire-tipped styli.

Clearly, clarification is in order.

For a more concise version, skip down to Ceramic, Comparison, and Conclusions.

But first, it's necessary to know a brief history of record player cartridges.

Early Phonographs

As you may know, the first flat-disc records were made of (mostly) shellac. Early speeds were highly variable, but it was eventually standardized to 78 rpm. This offered improvement over Edison's cylinder 'phonograph' as flat records could be stamped far more quickly. Berliner called his invention the 'gramophone' to avoid infringing on Edison's patent.

However, the continuous, ever-decreasing spiral would introduce the problem of inner-groove distortion, which still affects records today. Though Edison's cylinders had arguably better sound since all grooves had the same diameter, the flat-disc won out. He eventually would give into the flat-disc record phenomenon, but true to his curmudgeonly nature, he created the Edison Diamond Disc Record Company whose records could not be played on any other machine. Although, again, the vertically-cut grooves (as opposed to lateral) had arguably better sound and the obscene thickness of the discs improved durability, his attitude against recording artists he personally did not like spelled the demise of his record label.

How to install needle on record player windows 10

Nevertheless all phonograph and gramophone reproducers worked on the same basic principle. The grooves in the record vibrate a steel needle which moves a thin diaphragm, typically a sheet of mica (a mineral that flakes into sheets naturally) or rubber. The vibrating diaphragm acoustically generates the sound which is directed out to the amplifying horn. The needles used literally looked like sewing needles; though the technology has changed, the term remains.

The entire process is thoroughly mechanical without the need for electricity. As you can expect, this is very hard on shellac records due to the heavy reproducers generating high tracking force (by modern standards) in order to get the steel needles to move enough to vibrate the mica sheet. In addition, the tip of the needle wore off against the grooves and the point became flatter and flatter. Without replacing the needle after every side, the enlarged flattened area could scrape away the walls of the grooves.

How To Replace Needle On Record Player Crosley

Naturally, volume control was nearly non-existent. Phonographs with internal horns had the option of opening or closing the little doors with covered it. Volume control for the showy phonographs with the large external horns would give us the phrase 'put a sock in it'.

Electrical Amplification

The use of electricity in sound amplification revolutionized volume control among other things. The RIAA equalization curve was also developed. Previously, record companies had their own separate equalization standards for their records. In order to have records sound their best, you had to purchase the company's equipment. The RIAA standard curbed this problem which dictated that records be manufactured with low bass and high treble. Previously, low frequencies caused problems with sound reproduction (both acoustically, and electrically) as it causes increased stress on the record cutter and the playback needle. The electrical signal could now be boosted through an amplifier which increases the bass and dampens the treble to restore a very close approximation of the original sound. This also reduces high frequency background hiss and clicks and allowed for more grooves to fit onto one side of the record.

The technology for phonograph pickups developed during this time has changed very little. They can be broadly divided into two main categories: ceramic and magnetic. There's also capacitance or FM Cartridges which doesn't technically fit into either, but is beyond the scope of this article.

A more accurate and less-misleading description is a piezoelectric or crystal cartridge/pickup. Much like early phonographs, the mechanism to obtain an electric signal from the record grooves is entirely mechanical in nature. As the title implies, it relies on the piezoelectric effect. You experience it on a day-today-basis through common quartz clocks. When an electric current is applied to a crystal, typically quartz, the crystal structure will deform at its natural frequency. This constant and consistent vibration is used to regulate the clock mechanism.

Piezoelectric pickups work the same way, but in reverse. The stylus is attached to a germanium crystal or ceramic rod (hence the name). The grooves of the record move the stylus which bends the crystal which generates an electrical signal.

Magnetic

This is the other most common type of pickup. Now, recall some elementary school science: wrap a magnetic compass with some wire and wrap a cardboard tube with the same wire. Quickly pass a permanent magnet back and forth through the tube. You'll see the compass needle deflect, but only when the magnet is moving. This demonstrates the relationship between electricity and magnetism and how one can generate the other. Hooking a lightbulb to the circuit will show that it will generate electricity when the magnet is moved. Generating magnetism from electricity is demonstrated with an electromagnet.

Magnetic cartridges, moving coil and moving magnet, work on this principle. Unlike ceramic cartridges, there is no (or much less) physical connection between the stylus, the magnet, and the wire coils. The grooves cause the stylus to vibrate which disrupts the magnetic field and generates an electric signal in the wire coils.

Comparison

Removing all other factors, let's compare a piezoelectric pickup versus a magnetic pickup.

For starters, the best way to ensure longevity of records is to put as little wear on the grooves as possible. Aside from dust, this is governed by how the needle comes in contact with the grooves. Excessive tracking force, worn stylus tips, and other pressure on the grooves from the stylus will cause the grooves to deform more readily as the needle tracks over them. Shellac is harder than vinyl which allowed it to withstand the heavy tracking forces of steel needles and reproducers. However, modern ceramic and magnetic cartridges with their tonearms are much lighter in comparison.

Another important aspect is the ability for the stylus to faithfully track and reproduce the record groove. The more freedom of motion the stylus has and the less stiffly it is held, the better it can track. This is the main difference between the two types. A piezoelectric pickup requires the stylus to be able to deform the crystal enough in order to generate an electric signal. As such, high frequencies are not able to bend the crystal sufficiently leading to boosted bass and either soft or truncated treble.

On the other hand, a stylus attached to a magnetic cartridge only needs to move the comparatively lightweight coil or its housing. This allows for a greater freedom of movement of the stylus since it has less work to do.

However, the electric signal derived from a ceramic cartridge is of a much higher voltage than that of a magnetic cartridge. This forgoes the need for an equalizer and a pre-amp before it goes into the amplifier and its speaker system.

By far, the most common of ceramic cartridges on record players today is the P-188. It features a removable needle held in a yoke which is attached to the bit of crystal. Needledoctor and other sites sell replacement needles made of diamond and those meant for wider-grooved 78s.

Vintage ceramic cartridges can be identified by how stiffly the needle is held. You can gently brush your finger against the needle of very old (50s-era) electric record players and it'll hardly move as it is connected to the crystal. These also tend to have the flip-over needles for both wide-grooved 78s and microgroove 33s and 45s. The smaller one is usually marked LP (long-play) and the 78 one marked SP (standard play).

Conclusions

So why do people rip on Crosleys in particular? Aside from the aforementioned ceramic cartridges, the most common complaints are the poor construction and lack of adjustable counterweight, tracking force, and anti-skate.

However, Crosleys and similar record players are marketed to be attractive to an audience who are either unsure and daunted at the prospects of potentially expensive equipment or want an extremely simple way to listen and/or transfer their old records. We should not condemn them for that, but strive to gently educate those who wish to delve deeper into the record hobby.

Both types of cartridges have their strengths and weakness. Ceramic cartridges are used in environments which are easily disturbed and require the needle to stay in the groove. Vintage audio equipment may need the ceramic cartridge's higher voltage output. Magnetic cartridges cannot be used or have a much shorter lifespan in damp climes as condensation can erode the metal parts of the pickup.

In addition, there are some well-respected piezoelectric cartridges including Sonotone and Astatic.

Keep in mind, this is an extremely simplified explanation. However, the basic facts should be covered correctly.