Cartridge Mounting and Alignment

A cartridge that is not aligned is not playing the record. Overhang, tracking force and azimuth all have to be right before the stylus sits in the groove the way it was cut, and the difference between close enough and correct is audible on the first side you play. It is also the step people most often put off, and the easiest one to get wrong on a new cartridge.

That is where Mike comes in. As the owner of The Listening Room, he has mounted thousands of cartridges, so a new cartridge from us goes on right the first time and you hear what you paid for from the first record. He will come to you and set it up on your turntable, or you can bring the deck to our Chestertown shop and he will do it on the bench. Travel covers homes within 200 miles of Chestertown, Maryland.

Pricing

Travel is priced by one-way distance from our shop, and each distance needs a cartridge worth at least the amount shown. Buy a cartridge from The Listening Room in the same order, including a cartridge exchange or trade-in, and you pay the "Cartridge from us" price, automatically.

Replacement styli do not qualify for the discount. Farther than 200 miles, or something unusual? Contact us to find out.

Buying a turntable from us? Mounting and alignment is included on most turntables within driving distance, depending on the price of the full order and Mike's routes. Contact us for details.

How It Works

1. Contact Mike first. Get in touch to confirm your distance, your cartridge and a date. We apply reason to this, and there are some requests we cannot fulfill.
2. Order online. Choose your option above. If you are buying the cartridge from us, add it to the same order.
3. The discount applies itself. With a qualifying Listening Room cartridge in the cart, the service price drops at checkout.
4. Agree to our terms. Ordering means you accept our terms of service.
5. Mike sets it up. In our shop, or at your home on the date you agreed.

What's Included:

• Cartridge mounted to the headshell or arm, wired and secured
• Alignment set with a proper protractor rather than the printed card in the box
• Tracking force set on a scale to the manufacturer's figure for your cartridge
• Anti-skate and azimuth checked, and a test play to finish

Before Your Appointment

• Bought the cartridge from us? Once you have confirmed the date with Mike, he brings the cartridge with him and mounts it at your appointment. For in-store service, bring the turntable and we will have the cartridge ready.
• Cartridge exchange or trade-in? Mike sets the date once your cartridge is ready.
• Cartridge from somewhere else? Please leave it in its package until the appointment. The box usually carries the manufacturer's tracking force and loading figures.

No product will be shipped to you as part of this listing.