How Does a Phonograph Cartridge Work?
The interaction of the components of the phonograph are part of a signal chain, meaning that each part works to carry a signal from the groove of an analog disc back to the cartridge. The cartridge houses the magnet which is connected to the cantilever, a rod with a diamond tip. The tip is a sensitive instrument called a stylus. In a nutshell, the stylus vibrates along the path of the grooves in a record. The cantilever must be accurately sympathetic to the quick movements of the stylus’ diamond tip. What generally causes problems with disc skipping is the mass of the cantilever and the stylus. More mass means there is a greater chance of the stylus not tracking the grooves in the disc properly, resulting with both surfaces speeding past each other as the disc oscillates. The stylus is aligned in position with the record groove by a force referred to as the tracking force. The more pressure the tip places on the record will result in better tracking, but can also cause a disc to get we
