Do you charge to install cartridges?
That depends on the circumstances. Properly installing and setting up a cartridge with the right hardware and precisely calibrating overhang, […]
Turntables & Vinyl
Frequently asked questions about turntables and vinyl, belt-drive vs direct-drive, cartridges, headshells, alignment and more.
Are second-hand cartridges worth buying?
Many of the best cartridges ever made hail from the golden era of analog, so yes, the right carts are
Are second-hand records worth buying?
You bet, there are some awesome second-hand bargains to be had! Sadly though, the golden days of $1, $2 and
Are there any decent, affordable new turntables?
Yes, though this answer depends on what one considers decent and affordable. Those looking for new high-performance machines for under
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How long does a stylus last?
Anywhere from 200 to 2000 hours, depending on the cartridge design and stylus profile. I’ve written more about this in
What’s the deal with inner groove distortion?
Without getting too technical, as a cartridge mounted to a radially tracking tonearm moves across the record, playback distortion characteristics
What’s better: a vintage or new turntable?
Assuming you have around $1000 to spend, this gets you a far better vintage turntable than a new one, assuming
Why are good phono preamplifiers expensive?
Because in order to faithfully amplify the minuscule signals generated by a phono cartridge, they must have the highest precision
Should I buy a cheap phono preamp?
Only if you like ‘cheap’ sound from your vinyl playback system! There is enormous variation among phono preamplifiers, and sound
What are the important adjustments to make when setting up a cartridge?
A number of critical adjustments must be made each time a cartridge is fitted to a tonearm. These adjustments are
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Is it normal to hear hum when playing records?
No, a good, well-set-up vinyl playback system should be almost silent and exhibit no audible hum at rest or when
Should I play my records on radiograms and stereograms?
Not if you care about sound quality and preserving your vinyl! Funky Furniture Radiograms and stereograms, with few exceptions, are
Should I play my records on radiograms and stereograms? Read More »