Your stylus is the only part of your system that physically touches your records—and when it’s worn or mishandled, damage can happen fast.
In this Audio Advisor Learning Center guide, Ray Miller explains when it’s time to replace your phono stylus and how to do it safely, using clear, step-by-step demonstrations. You’ll learn how stylus wear affects sound quality and record longevity, and how to recognize audible and visual signs that replacement is overdue.
This page also walks through real-world stylus swaps using the Ortofon 2M Red and Grado Green3, along with sensible upgrade paths that can improve detail, tracking, and musical accuracy without changing your entire cartridge. If you want to protect your vinyl investment while getting the best performance from your turntable, this guide gives you the knowledge to do both with confidence.