--- title: How do I know the cartridge on my turntable is aligned properly? description: "Videos help: How do I know the cartridge on my turntable is aligned properly. Official Fluance support." --- [Skip to content](https://support.fluance.com/s/article/how-do-i-know-the-cartridge-on-my-turntable-is-aligned-properly#main-content) [![Fluance Logo White](https://support.fluance.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fluance%20Logo%20White.png?width=189&height=25&name=Fluance%20Logo%20White.png)](https://www.fluance.com/) - TURNTABLES Show submenu for TURNTABLES - [Turntables](https://www.fluance.com/tt/turntables) - [Turntable Speaker Systems](https://www.fluance.com/tt/turntable-speaker-systems) - [Turntable Accesories](https://www.fluance.com/tt/turntable-accessories) - [POWERED SPEAKERS](https://www.fluance.com/powered-bookshelf-floorstanding-speakers) - HOME AUDIO Show submenu for HOME AUDIO - [Home Theater Systems](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/home-theater-systems) - [Floorstanding](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/floorstanding-speakers) - [Bookshelf, Surround & Bipolar](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/bookshelf-surround-bipolar-speakers) - [Center Channel](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/center-channel-speaker) - [Subwoofers](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/subwoofer) - [Accessories](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/accessories) - [OUR STORY](https://www.fluance.com/about) - [BLOG](https://www.fluance.com/blog) Open main navigation Close main navigation - TURNTABLES Show submenu for TURNTABLES - [Turntables](https://www.fluance.com/tt/turntables) - [Turntable Speaker Systems](https://www.fluance.com/tt/turntable-speaker-systems) - [Turntable Accesories](https://www.fluance.com/tt/turntable-accessories) - [POWERED SPEAKERS](https://www.fluance.com/powered-bookshelf-floorstanding-speakers) - HOME AUDIO Show submenu for HOME AUDIO - [Home Theater Systems](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/home-theater-systems) - [Floorstanding](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/floorstanding-speakers) - [Bookshelf, Surround & Bipolar](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/bookshelf-surround-bipolar-speakers) - [Center Channel](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/center-channel-speaker) - [Subwoofers](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/subwoofer) - [Accessories](https://www.fluance.com/home-audio/accessories) - [OUR STORY](https://www.fluance.com/about) - [BLOG](https://www.fluance.com/blog) - - [Contact Us](https://support.fluance.com/s/kb-tickets/new) [Contact Us](https://support.fluance.com/s/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) YOUR GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE AUDIO EXPERIENCE - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Fluance Support Center](https://support.fluance.com/s?hsLang=en) 2. [Videos](https://support.fluance.com/s/videos?hsLang=en) # How do I know the cartridge on my turntable is aligned properly? **[How to Check the Alignment and Realign Your Cartridge - Turntable Alignment Tool Included](https://youtu.be/r19cEl9Q0UI)** A misaligned turntable cartridge can cause all sorts of unwanted problems, from premature wear on your needle to a distorted sound. Today, we're going to show you how to check the alignment on your cartridge, and explain how to fix it.  First, when you receive your Fluance turntable, it will come prealigned.  So aligning your cartridge isn't necessarily part of your initial setup. To check the alignment of your cartridge, you will need a cartridge alignment protractor. You can either buy one, or print one. In the description for this video, we will include a link to a PDF of our own cartridge protractor.  After printing the protractor, be sure to measure the reference scale. Checking the alignment depends on these measurements being exact, and accidentally printing the page slightly bigger, or smaller, will give inaccurate results.  Place the protractor on the spindle, and align the stylus tip with Point A. In this example, the cartridge is way off. It should look like this. The sides of the cartridge should be parallel with the grid lines.  If your stylus is not aligned, you will need to realign it.  Use a flat head screwdriver to loosen the screws. Rotate the cartridge until the lines are parallel. Once it's parallel, move the stylus tip to point B. If the cartridge is properly aligned at point B, tighten the screws, re-check to make sure it's aligned, and you're done. If it isn't, align it, and repeat the previous steps until the sides are parallel at both points.  If you don't get it right away, don't be discouraged. No matter how many times you've done this in the past, it will take a few tries to get just right. This can take a few tries.  Once the stylus is aligned, you probably won't need to align it again, unless you upgrade your stylus. 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