How to Replace a Turntable Cartridge - Step-by-Step Guide

There are several reasons you might want to replace your turntable phono cartridge. You could be upgrading the stock model shipped with your turntable, or you might be looking to replace an older model on a used deck. Either way, it's important you take care to install your new cartridge with care and attention to detail.

In this step-by-step guide, we walk you though the process of installing or replacing a turntable cartridge on a standard half-inch mount. The example turntable is a single-piece straight tonearm. For S-Shaped tonearms, the process and alignment is a little different. Check out our previous video for specific half-inch headshell mount instructions (details below).

Full step-by-step guide on how to replace a turntable cartridge:

Half-inch headshell for s-shaped tonearms instruction video:
   • How to Fit a Cartridge on a Headshell  

____________________________________________
Tools required (Amazon Affiliate links):

Smooth long nose pliers: https://amzn.to/3ymByNW
Mirrored alignment protractor: https://geni.us/mirroredprotractor
Standard alignment protractor: https://geni.us/hudson-alignment-kit
Tracking force gauge: https://geni.us/trackingforceguage