A worn out needle can increase the wear and tear on your records and actually damage them. Therefore, if your needle needs to be replaced, we strongly urge you to do so. After all, damaging your vintage collection of records is not only inconvenient, but it also destroys any resale value had you planned to eventually part with them. Most record players have a stylus lifespan of between 100 and 1,000 hours. When equipped with a high-end diamond stylus, it can last up to 2,000 hours before the needle is worn down. If you’ve already disassembled the player during your inspection, take this chance to wipe the internal components with a microfiber cloth.

How To Replace The Needle On A Crosley Turntable

If you’re looking for the best turntable needles in terms of price and sound quality, you’ve come to the right place. In this review, I’ll share my thoughts on the various options and give tips on how to choose the optimal needle for your player. But first let me explain how the needle works. Clean the internal components of the record player at least once every two months. Remove the platter and, using a soft cleaning brush, clean the belt and the motor with alcohol or cleaning fluid.If the weight is set too high, the needle presses into the grooves of your record with too much intensity and distorts your music. This can also damage your record over time. Once you’ve removed all of the dirt, use the tweezers to carefully place the new needle onto the record player’s arm. If you own a Bluetooth-connected Crosley, ensure that it’s connected to your device. The record player won’t spin until the Bluetooth is properly linked. The tips are not carefully manufactured and have rougher edges, which wear down your records at a much faster pace than well-made, high-end styli. If you have an improperly aligned turntable with a cheap stylus (like a Crosley) it will start to cause a loss of fidelity after only a few spins (depending on the stylus).

Replacing Crosley CR42 Needle - iFixit Repair Guide Replacing Crosley CR42 Needle - iFixit Repair Guide

That is why you can not go wrong when choosing between various record player needle types. I’ll detail what to keep in mind when browsing through different stylus options. Different turntable stylus shapes The shape of the stylus is also important; it should match the profile of your records’ groove. Styluses are typically elliptical, conical, or spherical. Non-standard shapes like Shibata and MicroLine are also available for more specific needs. Can you replace a needle on a record player?

Do some basic troubleshooting steps, such as plugging and unplugging the system as well as increasing the sound volume. If you notice any changes in sound quality such as skipping, distortion or poor sound quality when playing your records, it’s a good indicator that the needle needs replacing. That’s why I encourage everyone to do what you can to prevent damage to your record collection. Treat your albums like they are irreplaceable, because in many ways, they are. Even the best record player turntables sound bad if the record is damaged. It’s important to use the correct needle for your turntable model to ensure optimal sound quality and prevent damage to your records. Once you have identified the correct needle, you can proceed with the replacement process. Gathering The Necessary Tools

Replacing Crosley CR704 Needle - iFixit Repair Guide Replacing Crosley CR704 Needle - iFixit Repair Guide

Crosley has different needles for their record players. The two most common are the NP-6 with a sapphire tip and the NP-5 with a diamond tip. The most obvious sign of a worn stylus is the sound that it produces. If you start to hear distortion or static coming from your turntable, it may be time to replace the needle.

Before you can install a new needle, you must first remove the old one. This process requires a gentle touch to ensure that you do not damage any other components of your Crosley turntable. The little grooves on your record make a nice home for dirt and dust. It’s only natural it ends up there. How susceptible your records are to becoming dirty enough to skip really comes down to how they’re stored. As mentioned, this has not been studied in a lab, as far as we know. These are mostly opinions and personal experiences being shared. The solution to this problem is simple: stretch the belt. Don’t stretch it manually, though, as you might accidentally snap the cord. Instead, take the belt and put it in a container or pot with cold water. Then, put the container inside the refrigerator for about three to four hours. Mount it on the record player and test the stretch.