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Step 1
Start with the right kind of needle. Turntable needles, or styli, come in two varieties, each suited to a particular function. An elliptical needle has sharply tapering sides, so it can reach deep into the grooves, picking up all the fine vibrations; choose elliptical needles if you want to reproduce sound faithfully. A spherical needle has a round tip that makes less contact with the vinyl and picks up only the most obvious sounds; choose spherical needles for scratching.
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Step 2
Know your cartridges. A turntable needle is mounted in a cartridge that attaches to the tonearm of the turntable. In most cases, you'll be installing a cartridge with a needle already mounted in it, not changing out the needle itself. While there are a bewildering number of turntable cartridges available, DJs tend to stick with the major brands--Ortofon, Shure, Audio-Technics--that are compatible with DJ turntables found in most clubs.
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Step 3
Install a DJ cartridge into a DJ turntable by simply pushing the cartridge mount into the slot and tightening the ring. If you're using a cartridge or turntable that doesn't have a universal DJ cartridge mount, check to see whether it is a P-mount or a standard mount configuration. Attach a P-mount cartridge by lining up the four prongs on the cartridge with the holes on the tonearm and using the attached screw to tighten the connection. For instructions on the more complicated process of installing and calibrating the standard mount cartridges popular with audiophiles, see the GoodSound! article in Resources below.
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Step 4
Change a cartridge needle, if you have to, by gently pulling the old needle straight out of the cartridge and pushing a new one into place, tip side down, the same way. Many cartridges will accept both spherical and elliptical needles if you need to change out on the fly. You should replace the stylus at least once a month if you're a full-time DJ to avoid damaging wear on the records.
