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Create A Great Sound With Phonograph Needles

By Linda Maynard


Phonograph is another term used for a record player or gramophone. They were invented by Thomas Edison around 1877, and Alexander Graham Bell developed them further during the next decade. The invention of phonograph needles, improved the sound made by phonographs. The needle is often referred to as the stylus. In the twentieth century, Emile Berliner developed the flat, grooved double sided record we know today.

There is a cartridge attached to the record players arm, and that's where the needle can be found. When playing a record, it sits in one of the record's grooves. While the record spins on the player, the needle converts vibrations into sound which we hear as music.

Needles are usually made from diamonds or sapphire, but they can be made out of hard metal too. They are shaped like a pyramid, and the tip of the pyramid is the part which touches the record. The pyramid is held in place by a metal strip located in the cartridge.

The needle starts at the groove on the record's edge and moves inwards toward the center, while the record rotates. Vibrations move onto the small metal strip in the cartridge. The vibrations are turned into an electric signal, then an amplifier helps to turn the signal into sound, which is emitted from speakers.

Phonographs were originally monophonic, so the sound could only come out of one speaker. During the nineteen fifties, stereophonic sound was discovered. With stereophonic sound, vibrations could travel along two channels, which meant sound could come out of two speakers instead of one. This resulted in sound that was more intricate.

The words stylus and needle are often used interchangeably. Technically, a stylus and a needle perform the same task. The stylus though, is the very tip of the needle. The tip is the part usually made out of diamond or sapphire, but it can sometimes be made from platinum alloy or hard steel, but diamond or sapphire is most common nowadays. Diamond tips tend to last a lot longer than sapphire tips, but they cost a lot more. A double sapphire tip can last for up to a hundred hours of play, but this depends on how you use them and what state your records are in. Be careful when buying cheap needles, because they might have been used already. It's better to spend more cash and buy a diamond needle.

When trying to work out which needle you need, it can be easier if you get the cartridge's model number, instead of your record player's number. If you look on the cartridge's body, you will be able to find the model number. If you are not able to get a needle to use in your cartridge, then buy a different cartridge.

You'll know when your stylus needs replacing because the sound quality will deteriorate. A brand new needle on a turning record produces a top quality sound. If you start hearing distortion, that means it's time to buy a new stylus. If you play a record with a worn stylus, then you could damage it, and you'll begin to hear severe scratching noises. Ensure your phonograph needles are free from dust and dirt, as this can cause damage too.




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