Turntables and Cartridges: Speeds and Styluses

Speeds, drive type and what your amplifier must provide

Most albums play at 33 1/3 rpm, singles and some EPs at 45, and old shellac discs at 78, so check that the speed switch matches your records. Listings with three speeds suit mixed collections; 78s also need a wider stylus, so a single stylus rarely serves every speed well. Belt-drive decks isolate motor noise and are common for home listening, while direct-drive models, like the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB, start fast and hold speed steadily.

A turntable puts out a very weak phono signal. It needs a preamp, either built into the deck, as a separate box, or inside an amplifier with a phono input; otherwise the sound is faint and thin. Bluetooth turntables send the signal to wireless speakers, and suitcase-style portables carry their own speakers and run from the wall or a battery, trading fidelity for convenience.

Cartridges and needles: match the mount, then the stylus

Replacement parts come in two layers. The cartridge sits on the tonearm and is usually fixed with two screws on half-inch spacing; the stylus, or needle, is the tip that wears out and often clips off a moving-magnet cartridge. Buy the stylus listed for your exact cartridge model, not just the same brand. Moving-coil cartridges give lower output and need a phono stage designed for them. Replace a worn stylus when sound turns harsh or distorted, because a worn tip damages grooves.

Questions about Turntables and Cartridges: Speeds and Styluses

Do I need a separate preamp for a turntable?

Only if neither the turntable nor your amplifier includes a phono stage. Many decks have a built-in preamp with a switch; if yours does, it plugs into any line input. If not, use an amplifier with a phono input or add a small preamp.

Can I play 78 rpm records on a 33 and 45 turntable?

Not properly. A deck without a 78 setting cannot spin the disc at the right speed, and 78s need a wider stylus than modern LPs. Choose a three-speed model and check that its stylus suits 78s.

How do I know the stylus is worn out?

Warning signs are distortion on loud passages, a harsh or dull top end, and sibilant 's' sounds that smear. Styluses wear with hours of play rather than age alone, so replace yours at the maker's stated hours or sooner if the sound degrades.