What's wrong with my Record Player?!?!?!
 

i get so much static and muffled sound on my record player that i bought today! it's brand new and i don't know what the hell is wrong with it. could it be the records? i don't think it is cause it really muffled on all the records i play and i don't know what's wrong. i read something online about needing some sort of "mat" for the unit...what the hell is that? and could that be what's wrong with it? cause i don't have any mat. my player didn't come with one.

In no way am I an authority on this, and I'm sure someone else will be able to help you better.

Every couple of months my needle with gathter dust and shit and will cause the sound performance to be scratchy and muffled, check that. However you said it was new so I doubt it. Mabey the speakers aren't plugged in tight enough?

no i don't think it's due to the speakers or needle. it's weird cause when i wiggle the arm around it will play okay for a sec and then go back to being shitty and skipping and all that. it's weird.

Sounds like there could be something wrong the arm then, out of place or something.

Wait a while, I'm sure someone can help you....

Sounds like a needle.

What do needles sound like?

knee-dull

Yeah, that was pretty dull.

Shame.

hmmm....now it sounds fine. i wiggled the needle around. this is really wierd. i wonder what i'm doing that makes it sound muffled sometimes....?

Probably dust or something.

i sure hope you guys are right and it's just dust, but it's brand new!! anyways i'll let you know what happens. i hope i don't have to return it cause i really love this one! here's a pic of it! click to enlarge http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?categoryid=pcmcat29400050002&id=111536 6829249&skuid=7253492&type=product&ref=06&loc=01

Hey i have another question! what speed are the big vinly records? are those 33s? then there are the little tiny records...what speed are those?

big ones = 33 rpm
small ones = 45 rpm

ahh thanx!!

I used to have the same problem with my record player then I realized it was just because the needle was crooked. I adjusted the needle and it worked fine.

I have a little kit that's supposed to be for cleaning the needle but it has no instructions. Does anyone have an idea of how to use it? It's called Discwasher SC-2.

A mat? You do have a circular, rubber thingy that the record goes on, right? I can only guess that this is what a mat is.

7" records, such as those currently pressed by indie bands, can be either 33 or 45....sometimes I don't know which, since in decades past they actually told on the label, and now they don't.

ayayay... you probably jacked it into a regular input without a phono preamp...

& that service call will cost you $20 :P

I have a reasonable number of 7"s and but about three of them play at 33rpm.

In the 1980's all 7" records were 45's.