Replacement needles

The needle of a record player is an important instrument, so the right choice of stylus is as important as the choice of the correct cartridge.

The stylus is in direct contact with the disc. Without its function, the chain to musical sounds cannot be closed, making it to an elementary instrument. Original replacement needles usually have a natural diamond and have a finer and smoother surface, which clearly benefits the vinyl record and the sound. Replicas have an industrial diamond and are of a simpler structure.

When choosing a new stylus, it is important to focus on quality. Record player replacement needles can be made of various materials, including, for example, osmium or hardened steel. Generally, however, the needles are made of the raw material sapphire or diamond, whereby the diamond needle is of significantly higher quality and durability. Equally important is the cut of the needle, which can be roughly divided into two well-known types of cut. The spherical cut, which is also often called "conical needle", has a rounded spherical shape at the tip of the needle. Newcomers or innovative DJs who attach importance to a strong groove are well advised to use it. However, the spherical cut does not show such a first-class sound variety and its operating time is clearly below that of a needle with an elliptical cut. With the elliptical cut needle, one speaks of a high-quality cut, which is said to have a high conversion resistance and a long service life and thus stands as a needle cut for the best sound potential. Very exclusive replicas include Shibata and hyperelliptical special cuts.

When should a record needle be replaced?

The sound quality depends on the functionality of the stylus. This can be significantly reduced by wear or by improper adjustment. To prevent this, it is important to rely on your own hearing. Even minimal changes in the sound pattern should lead to a needle being checked.

Our tip: Before replacing your needle, check the contact weight of the cartridge, because if the weight is too low, even an undamaged needle can leave the record groove.

How long does a record needle last?

Although record needles and replacement needles are made of very hard material, the service life can vary between 1000 and 2500 hours, depending on the nature of the needle. Another determining factor is the condition of each individual record. Dust particles and scratches impair the performance and life of a stylus. Therefore, we generally recommend professional cleaning of records as well as record styluses, depending on need and use. Various cleaning systems are available for this purpose, which you will find in our shop under Phono Accessories.

In summary, replacement needles are usually replicas, whereas original needles are marked as such. We offer a variety of different original needles as well as record player replacement needles from leading manufacturers.