What can I do if my records are skipping?
There are a number of reasons that a record could skip. These steps will help find the cause for any skipping you might be experiencing.
- Confirm the stylus cover is removed.
- The turntable should be on a flat surface, an unlevel surface can cause the stylus to swing or track out of the grooves.
- Check the stylus for dust or debris that can build up over time. A stylus brush should be used to clean the stylus regularly.
- The anti-skate setting should match the tracking weight of the tonearm, if not it can cause skipping.
- When you first balance the tonearm, the anti-skate setting should be 0. If you rebalance the tonearm, set anti-skate back to 0 before starting.
- Check the records for dust or debris that may be causing the stylus to jump from the groove. An anti-static record cleaning brush should be used to clean the surface of your records.
- Try different records, as it can be difficult to see scratches in records that could cause skipping. Even new records may have debris left from manufacturing in the grooves.
- Confirm that the tonearm is not touching the tonearm lift bridge. This can cause skipping, especially at the lead groove of the record as the tonearm does not completely lower the stylus into the grooves. For more information on adjusting this see: Why won't my tonearm go all the way down?