How to Identify Which Stylus will Work with Your Turntable

Posted by LP Tunes on Jul 06, 2017

Step 1. Find the make and model of your turntable. The make is the company that made the turntable, the model is usually several letters and numbers. For example, the Audio-Technica AT-PL120 turntable. Audio-Technica would be the make and AT-PL120 would be the model number. Write this information down.

For Step 2, you'll attempt to identify your cartridge. Please refer to the option that matches your situation.

Step 2a. There's a cartridge and/or stylus on your turntable and you can locate the make and model number:
This information is found on the cartridge. For example, the Audio-Technica AT-PL120 turntable was fitted with an Audio-Technica ATP-2X cartridge. This information will allow you to find a stylus that is compatible with your cartridge. Write this information down and refer to step 3.

Step 2b. There's a cartridge and/or stylus on your turntable, but you are unable to find the make and/or model number:
In this situation, it would be best to simply send us photos of the cartridge and stylus currently fitted to your turntable so we can assist you in finding a suitable replacement. Please also include the make and model number of your turntable.

Step 2c. There's no cartridge and stylus on your turntable:
In this situation, you will need to purchase a cartridge and stylus to get your turntable up and running. Some cartridges are sold with a stylus and some are sold without. If you are not sure which cartridge(s) are compatible with your turntable, please contact us with the make and model of your turntable and we'd be happy to assist you with finding a cartridge and stylus that suits your needs.

Step 2d. You're referencing the information given in your turntable's owner's manual:
If you're referencing your turntable's owner's manual for your cartridge make and model, be sure to also check what is currently fitted to your turntable. If the cartridge currently fitted to your turntable does not match what is listed in the manual, you will end up with the wrong stylus. In the situation where your cartridge is different or you cannot identify which cartridge is currently fitted to your turntable, please contact us for assistance in finding the right stylus.
When contacting us for assistance, please include your turntable's make and model number and your cartridge's make and model number (if possible). Pictures will also help us identify a replacement for you.

Step 3. Search LP Tunes for the turntable or cartridge make and model number. You will find results for a compatible stylus replacement. For example, if you search LP Tunes for Audio-Technica AT-PL120 turntable or Audio-Technica ATP-2X cartridge, you will see this result: Audio-Technica stylus for Audio-Technica AT-PL120

Step 4. Next, take a close look at the stylus currently fitted to your cartridge. Compare the appearance of your current stylus with the image of the stylus shown on LP Tunes. Generally, the appearance should match. Sometimes there will be a variation in color, but the shape profile should be the same. If the appearance of your stylus does not match the stylus on LP Tunes, please send us the make and model numbers of your turntable and cartridge so we can assist you in finding a suitable replacement. Pictures will also help us identify a replacement for you.

For assistance, you can reach LP Tunes by mail, email or fax:

LP Tunes
3024 Via Venezia
Henderson, NV 89052

Email: info@lptunes.com
Fax: (702) 974-0220

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Fast and every thing as expected.

Good cartridge

I had a hard time finding this Stylus. Finally found it at KP Tunes, price was good and it came quickly. Worked so well I bought another as a backup

Unfortunately the belt was not correct, but LP Tunes made it right

The belt was thinner than the OEM belt, and ran at 32.1 rpm, I contacted LP Tunes and the refunded my payment this morning.

Great service. Hopefully they will review their belts for the Roksan Radius and in future they will work accurately. Can’t ask for more than this though, they cannot own every turntable.

Exactly the item that I was looking for.

Product fits and sounds very good.

Great product, great price!

Picked up a new turntable to match my other AT-LP120, an excellent product. Thanks to LP Tunes for the responsive customer service and free shipping!

Great product

Works great ..as advertised!

Does exactly what it is supposed to do, and does it well

I was looking for a turntable to transfer a couple hundred vinyl records to digital format. Since whatever setup I used for the transfer would be how I heard all those LPs from now to forever, it seemed to make sense to avoid cheaping out. OTOH, it's not worth it to me to spend thousands of dollars on an esoteric audiophile turntable. We already have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo turntable in the living area with the stereo, but I didn't want to commandeer that unit for transfer purchases,. That unit wins all the awards for "best under $1000 setup", but I'd need an external phono preamp and A/D converter, pushing the total cost to over $1k. The AT-LP120XUSB is less expensive and includes everything needed to connect to the PC, so it was an attractive option.

After reading a bunch of reviews of various turntables, I came to the conclusion that I was overthinking it and just went with this model. This turns out to be the right choice for my purposes. Once I had it set up I compared it directly with the Pro-ject unit, and the differences were subtle, if there were any audible differences at all. It works, it sounds good, and seems quite durable.

PROS:
o Setup is straightforward, since the TT, tonearm, headshell, cartridge, and stylus were all engineered together.
o The included stock AT-VM95E cartridge/stylus is well regarded and allows for an easy upgrade if you want a better stylus.
o Solidly built in the tradition of the Technics 1200 that it is modeled after.
o Professional quality internal phono preamp and A/D converter.
o Sounds basically identical to a unit twice the price
o Does basically everything it's supposed to do, and does it well.
o Since it's a DJ turntable, it should hold a good resale value - once I'm done digitizing the records I have I'm probably done with it so I might sell it at that point.

CONS:
o If you try to use both the USB and analog line out simultaneously there's a prominent high pitched whine - the engineers did not adequately isolate the two from ground loops - while this is a disappointment to me, there are easy work-arounds and few people are going to connect both.
o It's fully manual, so perhaps not the best choice if you just want to play records.
o If you have a receiver with a phono preamp, you don't need the internal one or the A/D converter so you'll be paying for things you don't use
o Your audiophile buddies will not be impressed.

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