As we continue whiling away this long, hot summer, the outdoors seems like the only place to be. However, we know what’s coming... Rain! And probably lots of it.

Autumn and winter are only a few months away too, and that’s when the indoors suddenly seems like the only place to be.

We dust off our records and settle in for some musical therapy, only to realise that everything isn’t quite up to scratch. The puns are going to come thick and fast.

Enter Chromey and his crew of Stylistics at the Manchester store, ready to take care of any shortcomings with your turntable.

Read on for a few cures and fixes!

Belt Up, Lad

So... first things first: turntable belts!

Drive belts can stretch, harden and begin to slip over time as they lose their grip. This can adversely affect the timing and pitch of your music.

some belts can stretch a little too far!!!

They’re definitely worth replacing, particularly if your belt hasn’t been changed in several years, and even more so if you’re someone who plays multiple records day in, day out.

ET voila - The Rega Advanced EBLT Turntable Drive Belt

We can help you find the correct replacement for your turntable. Owners of compatible Rega decks, for example, might want to look at the Rega Advanced EBLT Turntable Drive Belt.

Magnets That Move

We won’t dwell too much on the intricacies of different stylus profiles, but most easily replaceable styli are found on moving-magnet, or MM, cartridges.

just grab that stylus, pop it off and replace!! lemon squeezy.

This is where you can really hear a difference when replacing a worn-out stylus. Depending on your cartridge, replacements can range from affordable entry-level options to more sophisticated upgrades costing several hundred pounds.

Examples include the Ortofon Stylus 10 and the Rega Carbon Pro Upgrade Stylus.

Some replacement styli can be fitted at home, but don’t hesitate to bring your turntable into the store. We can supply and fit the correct stylus for you, as well as check that everything is properly set up.

Coiled Up

Now we can quickly discuss MCs, or moving-coil cartridges.

Those of you who own one probably already know that the stylus isn’t normally user-replaceable. Instead, the complete cartridge may need to be removed and replaced, exchanged or sent back to the manufacturer for rebuilding.

This is a much more hands-on job and will more than likely involve bringing your turntable into the store. We can examine the cartridge for you and offer a choice of suitable alternatives, whether you want a straightforward replacement or fancy taking the opportunity to upgrade.

We can also check the condition of the cartridge tags on the tonearm leads. These can sometimes become loose, potentially causing hum, intermittent channels or reduced performance.

They require a steady hand and a gentle approach, so it’s often best to leave them with us.

Clean as a Whistle

Finally, to keep everything tip-top and hunky-dory, don’t forget to clean your stylus.

A dry stylus brush, such as the Pro-Ject Clean-IT Carbon Fibre Stylus Brush, can gently remove dust and fluff from the stylus tip. Electronic and gel-type cleaners are also available, although you should always check the cartridge manufacturer’s advice before using any liquid or specialist cleaning product.

gently does it with the stylus cleaning brush chromey, steady as she goes.

Then there are record sleeves.

They may not seem like much, but replacing rough paper or cardboard inner sleeves can make a real difference. A good anti-static inner sleeve, such as the Goldring Exstatic Record Sleeves, can help protect your records from dust, static and unwanted scuffs.

Another thing to keep in mind is keeping your records clean and in tip-top shape. You don’t want unwanted marks, fluff or bits of dirt getting into those grooves and dulling the listening experience.

There are a few ways of tackling this. A simple anti-static record-cleaning brush, such as the Pro-Ject Brush-IT, is a good place to start and only takes a few seconds to use before playing a record.

The next step up could be a proper record-cleaning machine. Something such as the Pro-Ject VC-E2 Vinyl Record Cleaner can provide a much deeper clean, helping to remove dirt and contamination that an everyday brush might leave behind.

There ends this little segment on keeping your cartridges, styli and records fresh and clean.

You can take a look at more of the record-cleaning products available from Audio T, or pop into the Manchester store and let us help you find the right solution.

Be sure to check back with us for more news and the latest goings-on in the turntable world.

Thanks for reading.

Munir, Thomas and Dave - Audio T Manchester

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

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The products mentioned in this blog can be found in all Audio T stores:

A Hi-Fi System You Can Really Build

You may have spotted the miniature brick-built Hi-Fi systems sneaking into a few of the photos. No, we haven’t started recommending a plastic turntable as an upgrade for your Planar 3, although cartridge alignment would probably be much easier!

These tiny systems were created following a collaboration between Audio T Manchester and local company The Printed Brick. The range includes miniature turntables, speakers, record storage and plenty of colourful little vinyl records. They’re fun, slightly ridiculous and make a brilliant gift for music lovers, collectors or anyone whose full-sized Hi-Fi system has already taken over the house.

Read the full story and find out how to purchase your own miniature Hi-Fi set-up here.