Definition of Headshell
A headshell is a head piece designed to be attached to the end of a turntable's or record player's tonearm, which holds the cartridge. Standard cartridges are secured to the headshell by a couple of 2.5 mm bolts spaced 1/2" apart. Older, non-metric cartridges used #2 (3/32") bolts.
Some headshells are designed to allow variable weights to be attached. For example, the H4-S Stanton headshell comes with 2g and 4g screw-in weights. Extra weight can be useful to prevent skipping if the DJ is scratching the record. The pin diameter of most if not all of the headshells is in the exact ⌀ 1.0mm.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Headshell?
A headshell is a head piece designed to be attached to the end of a turntable's or record player's tonearm, which holds the cartridge. Standard cartridges are secured to the headshell by a couple of 2.5 mm bolts spaced 1/2" apart.
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Headshell – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Jacques from Cape Town, South Africa – CC BY 2.0