Needle Search Tips

The easiest way to identify your needle is to take advantage of our service. We will identify the correct replacement needle for you. Simply follow this link and take advantage of the NeedleDepot search service.

How to send us information about your needle.

You can of course use our needle search engine and lookup you needle on-line.

Searching for the correct replacement needle can be difficult. There are two basic ways to identify the correct replacement needle:

To identify a needle visually, make sure that the shape of your existing needle exactly matches the picture on the web site or the needle will not work.

The visual search is a lot easier if you know the brand of your needle or cartridge. Select your brand in the list displayed on the left of the page, or click on catalog to show a complete list of brands. All the needles for that brand will be displayed with their pictures.

If you do not know the brand of the cartridge or of the needle you may try the turntable brand. This, however does not always work.

Visually matching needles can be difficult and may lead to errors! Our team of specialists will be pleased to help you and do the search for you. Simply provide us with the model or a picture of your needle and we will search for the correct replacement needle.

How to send us a picture of your needle or the needle itself for identification

Searching With Numbers

Needles involve a lot of numbers but looking up a needle is pretty straightforward. Needles can be identified by Turntable number, Cartridge number or Manufacturer Needle Number.

Turntable Numbers

Cartridge Numbers

Manufacturer Needle Numbers

Full Search

Stereo Needle Supplier Numbers

The Turntable Model Number.

It is often possible to identify a needle by looking up the turntable model number. The turntable number can usually be found on the back or under your turntable. It can also be found on the documents that accompanied your turntable when you bought it.

To search:

• Be sure to write down both the brand name and the model number of your turntable.
• In the search box select Turntable in the "search by" list.
• Enter the Brand Name.
• Enter the Turntable Model Number.

  You do not have to enter all the letters or numbers. Our search engine will return all the results that match the information that you entered. The more you enter the more precise the search. Do not worry about dashes, slashes or other punctuations, the search engine is programmed to automatically account for those.
  If you do not enter any name for the brand the search engine will search for your turntable number by scanning all the brands.

A list of needles that match your search criteria will be displayed.

The needles that we are suggesting as replacement may not be correct! We cannot be sure that the needle that we are showing for your turntable is the correct needle. The manufacturer may have installed different cartridges (and needles) at different times or for different production runs. Also, it is possible that that cartridge was replaced at some point in the past. Therefore, it is important that you follow the links on the result list and visually compare your needle with the pictures that are provided on the site. While colors are usually unimportant, the shape of your needle must exactly match the pictures!

If you have trouble matching the pictures to the needle please read our advise on how to identify a needle visually or send us your information so that we can help you find the correct replacement needle: Needle Search Form

The Cartridge Model Number.

Cartridges are the devices that are installed at the end of your turntable arm. The needle in turn is attached to the cartridge. Very often, your can find a brand name and Cartridge model number on the cartridge. You may also find the information in any paperwork that you may have kept (either for the turntable or the cartridge). This is a good way to identify your needle. The procedure is straightforward.

To search:

• Be sure to write down both the brand name and the model number of your cartridge.
• In the search box select Cartridge in the "search by" list.
• Enter the Brand Name.
• Enter the Cartridge Model Number.

  You do not have to enter all the letters or numbers. Our search engine will return all the results that match the information that you entered. Do not worry about dashes, slashes or other punctuations, the search engine is programmed to automatically account for those.
  If you do not enter any name for the brand the search engine will search for your cartridge number by scanning all the brands.

A list of needles that match your search criteria will be displayed.

The needles that we are suggesting as replacement for your cartridge are correct. It is however important that you follow the links on the result list and visually compare your needle with the pictures that are provided on the site. While colors are usually unimportant, the shape of your needle must exactly match the pictures!

If you have trouble matching the pictures to the needle please read our advise on how to identify a needle visually or send us your information so that we can help you find the correct replacement needle: Needle Search Form

The Manufacturer Needle Number.

The needle number can be found on the needle itself, on the cartridge or more likely on any materials that you have related to the turntable or the cartridge.

Again, the search procedure is straightforward.

To search:

• Be sure to write down both the brand name and the manufacturer needle number.
• In the search box select Needle in the "search by" list.
• Enter the Brand Name.
• Enter the Manufacturer Needle Number.

  You do not have to enter all the letters or numbers. Our search engine will return all the results that match the information that you entered. Do not worry about dashes, slashes or other punctuations, the search engine is programmed to automatically account for those.
  If you do not enter any name for the brand the search engine will search for your cartridge number by scanning all the brands.

A list of needles that match your search criteria will be displayed.

It is very important that you follow the links on the result list and visually compare your needle with the pictures that are provided on the site. While colors are generally unimportant, the shape of your needle must exactly match the pictures or the needle will not work!

If you have trouble matching the pictures to the needle please read our advise on how to identify a needle visually or send us your information so that we can help you find the correct replacement needle: Needle Search Form

Full Search.

A full search will search for Turntable Model Numbers, Cartridge Model Number and Manufacturer Needle Number at once. You can use this search if you do not know what the numbers you have correspond to. This type of search may return a large number of matches and make it difficult to find your needle.

To search:

• In the search box select All in the "search by" list.
• Enter the Brand Name.
• Enter the Manufacturer Needle Number.

  You do not have to enter all the letters or numbers. Our search engine will return all the results that match the information that you entered. Do not worry about dashes, slashes or other punctuations, the search engine is programmed to automatically account for those.
  If you do not enter any name for the brand the search engine will search for your cartridge number by scanning all the brands.

A list of needles that match your search criteria will be displayed.

It is very important that you follow the links on the result list and visually compare your needle with the pictures that are provided on the site. While colors are generally unimportant, the shape of your needle must exactly match the pictures or the needle will not work!

If you have trouble matching the pictures to the needle please read our advise on how to identify a needle visually or send us your information so that we can help you find the correct replacement needle: Needle Search Form

Stereo Needle Suppliers

In addition, you may have bought a replacement needle in the past from a Needle Supplier such as Pfansheil, Recoton, Zafira, Radio Shack etc. You can easily identify the correct replacement needle by entering the Supplier's own number or SKU and searching under ALL or needle.

• In the search box select Needle or All in the "search by" list.
• Enter the Supplier's name for the Brand Name or leave the brand blank.
• Enter the Supplier's Needle Number or SKU.

  You do not have to enter all the letters or numbers. Our search engine will return all the results that match the information that you entered. Do not worry about dashes, slashes or other punctuations, the search engine is programmed to automatically account for those.
  If you do not enter any name for the brand the search engine will search for your cartridge number by scanning all the brands.

A list of needles that match your search criteria will be displayed.

Remark

Some needles are sold under various Brand Name and different cartridge and needle number. We allow you to search for needles under their original appellation but we may ship the needle under the appellation of its manufacturer.