💿 Turntable Stylus Replacement Guide

Calculate when your stylus needs replacing, understand MM vs MC cartridges, and find compatible styli for your setup.

Stylus Life Calculator

Hours per week listening

Stylus type

Hours already used

⚠️ Your stylus may already be worn. A damaged stylus destroys records — replace it soon.

MM vs MC Cartridges

Feature	Moving Magnet (MM)	Moving Coil (MC)
How it works	Stylus moves magnets between fixed coils	Tiny coils attached to stylus cantilever move in fixed magnet
Output voltage	High (3–6 mV) — works with most phono stages	Low (0.1–0.6 mV) — needs high-gain phono stage (MC input or step-up)
Stylus replacement	✅ Yes — stylus easily snaps off and replaced	❌ No — must return or replace whole cartridge (or retip)
Price range	$30 – $500+	$200 – $5,000+
Sound character	Full-bodied, warm, forgiving	More detail retrieval, open, precise — when system is resolving enough
Best for	Most home listeners, beginners, mid-fi systems	Audiophiles with resolving systems and appropriate phono stage

Popular Cartridges & Compatible Styli

Stylus Cleaning Guide

1
Dry brush (every session): Use a dedicated stylus brush (front-to-back only, never side-to-side). One gentle stroke removes most dust and debris before each play.
2
Wet cleaning (weekly or monthly): Apply a tiny drop of stylus cleaning fluid to the brush and gently clean front-to-back. Never apply liquid directly to the cantilever or cartridge body.
3
Gel / Magic Eraser (monthly): Press the stylus gently down onto a dedicated stylus cleaning gel or a dampened piece of white Magic Eraser. The gel grabs debris that dry brushing misses.
4
Ultrasonic cleaning (when needed): Ultrasonic stylus cleaners (Knosti, Audio Desk) vibrate grime off at a microscopic level. Best for heavily contaminated styli. Use distilled water + cleaning solution only.
5
Visual inspection: Use a 30× loupe or USB microscope to inspect the stylus tip. A worn stylus has a flattened tip rather than a pointed one. If in doubt, replace.