HOW TO CHANGE THE CARTRIDGE ON YOUR TURNTABLE

It's not as hard as you may think-just follow our guide

Installing a new phono cartridge is something of a rite of passage for turntable owners. It's a skill that once was common, but now seems to be considered some kind of black art by many. In reality, it's not such a hard thing to do provided you have the appropriate tools, a reasonably steady hand and some patience.

So what tools are you likely to need? Typically, cartridge bolts need a 2mm Allen key or a small, flat-bladed screwdriver depending on the type of fixing used. Unless you have unusually thin fingers, a pair of small, long-nose pliers is handy too.

While things such as Allen keys, screwdrivers and pliers can be found in most toolboxes, few non-audiophiles will have a proper tracking-weight gauge or cartridge-alignment tool. Fortunately, neither has to cost a fortune and a budget of £20 should cover the purchase of both if you stick with something basic.

Unless this is your turntable's first cartridge, you need to start by removing the old one. In this case, make sure you fit the stylus guard before you do anything else to prevent damage to the old cartridge. You never know if you might need it again.

Then disconnect the four lead-out wires from the cartridge as carefully as you can. We like to use those long nose pliers for this. These colour-coded leads are fragile, so only pull them from the metal connector at the cartridge end rather than the wire itself. Once that's done it's a simple matter to undo the mounting bolts and take the cartridge off.

Fitting your new cartridge

Once you have the new cartridge out of the box, it is worth checking that the stylus cover is still properly mounted. Cartridges are immensely fragile and any lack of care will usually result in catastrophic damage.