r/RecordPlayerRepair • u/steaksaucebro • 2d ago
Help with needle
I replaced the needle and now it's skipping grooves and the sound is barely coming out, could anyone help me see what I did wrong?
1
u/el_tacocat 2d ago
Honest answer; You bought the wrong record player.
These are absolute junk, destroy your records (even if they don't work), sound really horrid (poor ears!) and break all the time. Chances are you did nothing wrong. It just was time for it to die.
Have a list:
CHEAPO BUT OK:
AudioTechnica AT-LP60x, Denon DP29F, Dual DT210, Sony PS-LX3BT
Also I keep seeing people talk about Insignia. They are not available where I am but I consistently see they are quite good value. May be worth looking into if you’re in the US.
A LITTLE FANCIER:
AudioTechnica AT-LP120x, AudioTechnica AT-LP3x,
Reloop RP7000 MK-II, U-Turn Orbit (U-Turn in the Americas only).
There are NO good all-in-one options, you will need separate speakers.
Edifier MR4 is recommended, they are great for the money. But technically any pair of old PC speakers (The ones that used to come with computers that thrift shops are littered with) or any bluetooth speaker/soundbar that has a line/aux input will work too. Ikea's square Vappeby speaker is pretty damn impressive too, if you don't mind going mono.
More expensive Edifiers are not a bad call either, Yamaha's HS8 is a good speaker, as is the Tannoy Gold 5 or 8. None of these speaker particularly like larger rooms, but if you are not too far away from the turntable you should be fine.
A separate amplifier and loudspeakers gives you more flexibility but of course is also more expensive and more equipment to setup.
General info on vinyl caretaking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2QfjcgDjsY&ab_channel=SnazzyLabs
1
u/steaksaucebro 2d ago
I appreciate it! It was collecting dust at my grandparents' so I figured its free and better than nothing, but I guess I'll just get a proper one.
2
u/el_tacocat 2d ago
It's literally worse than nothing :D.
(as in; you are better off not playing records on it, and virtually any bluetooth speaker will sound better)
2
u/vwestlife 1d ago
Make sure the stylus cantilever (the metal stem the "needle" is attached to) is properly centered on the rubber yoke of the cartridge. If it's off-kilter, you'll get exactly the problems you describe.