Technics Turntable Needles

Frequently Asked Questions About the Technics Turntable Needle

Electronics company Technics started more than 50 years ago in Osaka, Japan. With its parent company Panasonic Corporation, it manufactures and sells audio products such as turntables, amps, speakers, and turntable needles or styluses across global markets.

The needle is part of the Technics turntable system. Upon closer inspection, a vinyl record has groves that are patterned to create a sound. Technics phonograph needles have a tip made from diamond or some hard material. To be able to hear the sound from an LP, the stylus would have to touch the grove to read the signal patterns. The signal is then converted into sound. The stylus tracking force indicates the right weight balance to generate sound with minimal friction to the disc.

This part is prone to wear and tear since it often touches the surface of the vinyl record. Basically, the audio equipment needs this part to produce a sound. The sound quality drops when parts of the player such as the cartridge setup requires a changeout. Some of the signs include a change in tonal quality, distortions and noises, and lowered volume. The needle also “jumps” while playing a disc. When this part is past its useful life, it could scratch and damage the grooves in the surface of the disc.

Below are just some examples of the needles manufactured by the Technics audio electronics company:

• EPS-24CS: This model has a 0.7 mil diamond tip, weighs around 9 gm, and has a tracking force of around 1 to 1.5 gm. It can be used for 16, 33, or 45 rpm.
• EPS-23CS: This model also has a 0.7 mil conical diamond tip and has a tracking force of around 1 to 1.5 gm. It shares a similar RPM requirement with the EPS-24CS.
• EPS-24ES: This is designed for the EPC-P24 cartridge. It has the same round diamond tip feature.

The Technics stylus is attached to the cartridge that in turn is attached to a shell. Holding the entire part is the tonearm of the player. This is the part that is lifted and placed over the vinyl record. Replacing the stylus often requires unscrewing the cartridge from the tonearm. Once the cartridge has been removed, the stylus can be replaced from the cradle. Once safely placed in the cartridge, it should be tested for playback quality.