Troubleshooting common turntable issues (2024)

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urntables are awesome, but every now and then, they might throw you a curveball. Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered with some easy troubleshooting tips.

Our vinyl-loving customers sometimes reach out to our tech department for assistance. Here are some quick answers to common questions.

Note: The following answers assume these issues have developed over time and aren’t related to the initial setup. For help with setting up a turntable, check out our turntable setup guide.

Distorted or muffled sound

This is a common one. You get the hankering to listen to that treasured copy of Blonde on Blonde, and all of a sudden, "Rainy Day Women #12 and #35" has become "Muddy Day Women..." What could be the cause? Well, if your music sounds off — like it’s underwater, murky, or super fuzzy — it’s usually the stylus, alignment, or maybe a dirty needle.

What to do:

Start by making sure your stylus is good and clean by carefully using a stylus cleaning brush. Sometimes dust, oil or another debris can accumulate on the stylus tip, creating sound and playback issues. If, after cleaning, things still sound funky (and not in the Bootsy Collins kind of way), check your cartridge alignment. That can also play a big part. And if it's been a while since you swapped the stylus, it might just be time for a new one.

Skipping or jumping during playback

Don't you just hate it when you put on a record for a quiet night of music and the needle is leaping over grooves like it’s in a race? Unless you are listening to one of those special Technics vinyl releases featuring Lamborghini engine sounds and tire spins, that’s a total drag. So what's the cause? Well, this could be due to dust, scratches, or an unbalanced tonearm.

What to do:

Clean those records! A brush or record cleaning system should do the trick. Also, it's important that your tonearm's weight is still set correctly, so double-check the tracking force and anti-skate settings. Unsure how to do that? Don't worry, this guide to balancing a tonearm will help.

Annoying hum or buzz

Humming or buzzing from your record isn’t good — unless you're jamming to Crash Test Dummies or some sludgy Melvins with Buzz Osborne. Otherwise, that annoying hum or buzz in the background is probably electrical interference or a grounding issue.

What to do

The first thing to do with any grounding issue it to make sure the ground wire between the turntable and your preamp, amp or receiver is still connected. If so, check all your RCA cables to ensure they’re plugged in tightly on both ends. It's also good to check the small wire connections on the back of the cartridge to make sure they are still intact. Still buzzing? Try moving your turntable away from electronics like routers or power strips that might be causing interference, especially if you have recently added anything new into the mix.

Speed issues

Trying to spin your favorite Superdrag album but it sounds like it's literally dragging? Now that’s a super drag. If your record’s running too slow or speeding up, you've likely got a speed issue — probably with the motor or the belt (if there is one). Either that or you’ve got gremlins!

What to do

Don't feed them after midnight. Also, double-check that you’re on the correct speed setting (33-1/3, 45, or 78 RPM). If you’ve got a belt drive turntable, make sure the belt isn’t stretched or worn out. Also, since some 'tables require manual belt adjustment for the speed change, make sure it's sitting in the correct position in the pulley. If there is no belt, and it seems that the motor is acting up, you might need a pro to take a look.

The turntable won’t spin

If you cue up a record and the platter isn’t spinning at all, it could be a belt or pulley issue (for belt-drive models) or the motor (for direct-drive models).

What to do

Just like with speed issues, check if the belt is intact and properly in place (if your turntable has one). Make sure it’s not twisted, and if it’s stretched or broken, go ahead and swap it out.

For direct-drive models — or if your belt’s pulley isn’t spinning — try plugging into a different outlet to rule out a simple power issue. If it’s not that, motor trouble likely means calling in a professional. Yep, you might need a Spin Doctor. (Sorry about that one.)

Tonearm drops in the middle of the record

Here's the scene. You are all set to play your favorite record and the tonearm cues to the wrong spot. Frustrating, right? Well, this could be due to something simple or something slightly less simple.

What to do

The easy fix? If you have an automatic turntable, check the record size switch, if it has one. Some models have a setting for 7" versus 12" records. If it’s set wrong (or sometimes in between sizes), the turntable might think you're playing a single when you’re actually spinning a full-length album, or vice versa — causing it to drop the needle in the wrong part of the platter.

If that's not the issue, it could be the tonearm balance, which affects manual 'tables too. An improperly balanced tonearm might swing too far in or not far enough, messing up the track you're trying to cue. Here's our guide again with info on how to balance the arm.

Static build-up

Nothing’s worse than getting a brand new record, cueing it up, and instead of the warm, smooth sounds of Nina Simone you're hit with that crackling, popping noise of dust clinging to your vinyl. That's static electricity — and it's definitely not your friend. Sure, it’s fun for a laugh when you rub a balloon on your kid’s head and make their hair stand up, but trust me, static and records don’t mix.

What to do

Use an anti-static brush on both your records and stylus. It's also smart to invest in anti-static, inner record sleeves or even an anti-static "gun." And don’t forget to keep the room’s humidity in check — static loves a dry room. Follow these steps, and your vinyl will stay clean, be dust- free and "Feeling Good" — just like Nina.

Sound only coming from one speaker

So, you cue up a record expecting full stereo sound, but instead, only one speaker is working while the other is faint or completely silent? Unless you're spinning some late '60s super-wide stereo mix of The Doors’ first album — it’s likely an issue with either your RCA cables, your turntable's output or amplifier's input.

What to do

Figuring out this issue is a bit more involved, but no worries — we’ll take it step by step.

The first rule of problem solving is not to talk about problem solving. Wait? Scratch that. The key to solving any problem is breaking it down into smaller parts. In this case, we need to determine whether the issue lies with the turntable, the amplifier, or something else, like the cabling or an external preamp.

First steps

Start by testing a different source through your receiver or amp (like a CD player, Bluetooth or even the FM radio.) If both speakers work? Awesome! That rules out any major issues with the amplifier's output or the speakers themselves.

Next, double-check the RCA cables between the turntable and amp to ensure they’re securely connected. If you’re using an external preamp, also verify both the input and output connections. If everything is snug and the problem persists, we’ll dive deeper into the testing.

Testing the turntable

To eliminate the turntable as the issue, swap the RCA cables at the turntable — move the left channel to the right and the right to the left (red to white, white to red). This quick test, only possible with turntables that have removable cables, helps identify if the turntable is at fault. If the issue shifts with the swap (e.g., a right-channel problem moves to the left), the turntable could be the culprit. In that case, check the wires at the back of the cartridge to ensure they're securely connected and not loose or damaged.

If the sound issue doesn’t move, it’s time to check the amplifier for input issues.

Doing the same RCA cable swap at the amplifier can help pinpoint sound problems. (See example below). If the issue shifts with the swap, you’re likely dealing with a bad RCA cable that needs replacing.

If after swapping the cables, however, the same speaker is still acting up, it’s likely an issue with the input on the amplifier.

Testing the amplifier's input

If your turntable has a built-in preamp that you’re not using, turn it on and switch the cables from the turntable to a non-phono input on your amp. If both speakers start working, that points to a potential issue with the phono input on your amp. At that stage, you might want to stick with the built-in preamp, invest in an external phono preamp, or consider replacing the amp or receiver altogether.

On the flip-side, if you’re already using your turntable’s internal phono preamp, try plugging the RCAs into a different input on the amplifier. If that doesn't work, and your amplifier has a phono input, turn off the built-in preamp in the turntable and give that dedicated phono input a try. If both speakers work properly when using the amp's phono input, it might indicate that the internal preamp in your turntable isn't performing as well as it should. In that case, you can either keep things as they are, or add an external preamp to the mix.

Wrap-Up

Troubleshooting your turntable can feel intimidating, but as you can see, most issues are easy to fix. Regular cleaning, proper setup, and quick checks here and there will keep your vinyl experience smooth and enjoyable. Keep these tips handy, and you’ll have your turntable running like a pro in no time.

Need some guidance?

Got questions about the gear we talked about or looking to snag something new? Our expert Advisors are here to help! Reach out for free, personalized advice. And if those pesky gremlins mess with your system down the line, don’t worry — every Crutchfield purchase comes with free lifetime tech support.