Vinyl records have been making a comeback in recent years, and for good reason. They offer a unique listening experience that can't be replicated by digital music. However, vinyl records can also be a bit delicate, and they can skip for a variety of reasons.
In this blog post, we'll discuss the most common causes of skipping records and how to fix them. We'll also provide some additional troubleshooting tips to help you keep your records sounding their best.
Common causes of skipping records
Dust and dirt: Dust and dirt can build up in the grooves of your records and prevent the stylus from tracking the grooves properly. This can cause the record to skip or sound distorted.
Dirty stylus: The stylus is the needle that sits at the end of the tonearm. It's responsible for tracking the grooves of the record and translating them into sound. If the stylus is dirty or damaged, it can cause the record to skip.
Unbalanced tonearm: The tonearm is the arm that holds the stylus in place. It's important to have the tonearm properly balanced so that the stylus can track the grooves of the record evenly. If the tonearm is out of balance, it can cause the record to skip.
Incorrect tracking force: The tracking force is the amount of pressure that the stylus applies to the record. If the tracking force is too low, the stylus may skip out of the grooves of the record. If the tracking force is too high, it can damage the record.
Damaged record: If the record is warped, scratched, or cracked, it's likely that it will skip.
Anti-skate setting: The anti-skate setting helps to prevent the stylus from being pulled towards the center of the record. If the anti-skate setting is too low, the stylus may skip out of the grooves of the record.
Cartridge alignment: The cartridge alignment is the alignment of the cartridge relative to the tonearm. If the cartridge is not properly aligned, it can cause the stylus to skip out of the grooves of the record.
How to fix a skipping record
Clean the record: The first thing you should do if your record is skipping is to clean it. You can use a record brush or a record cleaning machine to clean your records. Record brushes are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Simply brush the record in a circular motion, starting from the outer edge and working your way towards the center. Record cleaning machines are more expensive, but they offer a more thorough clean. Record cleaning machines work by submerging the record in a cleaning solution and then spinning it to remove dirt and debris.
Clean the stylus: If cleaning the record doesn't fix the problem, you may need to clean the stylus. You can use a stylus brush to clean the stylus. Stylus brushes are small, soft brushes that are specifically designed to clean stylii. Simply brush the stylus in a downward motion, from the front to the back.
Balance the tonearm: If cleaning the record and stylus doesn't fix the problem, you may need to balance the tonearm. To balance the tonearm, you'll need to use a tonearm balance. Tonearm balances are small, spring-loaded devices that attach to the tonearm. To use a tonearm balance, simply place the stylus on the tonearm balance and adjust the counterweight until the tonearm is balanced horizontally.
Adjust the tracking force: If cleaning the record, stylus, and balancing the tonearm doesn't fix the problem, you may need to adjust the tracking force. To adjust the tracking force, you'll need to use the counterweight on the tonearm. To increase the tracking force, turn the counterweight clockwise. To decrease the tracking force, turn the counterweight counterclockwise.
Check the anti-skate setting: If you've tried all of the above and your record is still skipping, you may need to check the anti-skate setting. Consult your turntable's owner's manual for how to adjust the anti-skate setting.
Check the cartridge alignment: If you've tried all of the above and your record is still skipping, you may need to check the cartridge alignment. Consult your turntable's owner's manual for how to adjust the cartridge alignment.
Replace the record: If you've tried all of the above and your record is still skipping, it's possible that the record is damaged. If the record is warped, scratched, or cracked, it's likely that it will skip. If you think your record is damaged, you can try to repair it using a record repair kit.
