How to Fix a Wobbly Record Player: 5 Easy Ways

Is your record player sounding wobbly and disjointed? Can it not even play a side of vinyl without warping and careering out of control? Is it driving you insane to the point of insomnia?

Then come on in from the cold, dark night or negligence, as today we will be exploring 5 of the most common reasons for a wobbly record player and how you can go about rectifying it.

Table of Contents

• 1. Uneven Surface
• 2. Warped Records
• 3. Platter
• 4. The Belt
• 5. Dust & Debris
• Final Tones
• FAQs How to Fix a Wobbly Record Player

1. Uneven Surface

No matter what kind of turntable you own, they are all going to need to be placed upon an even surface if you want your vinyl records to be free of any platter wobble courtesy of the turntable platter. A flat surface is entirely necessary for the safe and sanctimonious functioning of any record player or turntable.

Turntable wobble will be completely rid of if you are placing your record collection onto a perfectly flat platter. This is the one thing all record players need (besides the power, of course).

2. Warped Records

A warped record is easily the second most common reason why a record player might sound or look wobbly. Excessive heat can turn anything into mush, so it is no wonder that warped Zeppelin record looks the way it does. Even if you left the record inside a sleeve, the effect of heat is innumerable on records that are made from polyvinyl chloride.

You can do anything, but if you get your records warped, then there is scarcely much you can do about it, though you can always visit here to find out how to fix a warped vinyl record.

3. Platter

Next up, we have the issue of the platter. After the uneven surface and the warping of a record, this is the next most common issue with regard to a wobbly record player.

Most machines will be fitted with a platter that is perfectly flat and ready to do your bidding. However, it is not unheard of for some to come wobbly from the factory or, indeed, to have turned this way when you inevitably add excessive pressure.

Constant pressure on a new platter mount will eventually cause a platter to either warp itself or break entirely.

4. The Belt

If this is a belt drive turntable, then perhaps the reason for the record seeming wobbly has to do with the belt within.

Thankfully, these kinds of repairs are easy to carry out by yourself – so you can hang up on your local audiophile technician. Often, a turntable belt can be hanging too loosely or can be broken entirely, causing the action of the record player to be too wobbly. These are, however, inexpensive and easy to replace.

5. Dust & Debris

Finally, it might be worth checking your turntable for dust and debris lurking around. Sure, the surface and all of the external components might look clean and shiny, but when was the last time you gave its innards some tender loving care? Crack open the hood and make sure that there is no dust and dirt lying around that might otherwise cause some issues.

Final Tones

So, there you have it! Hopefully, you have been enlightened and are now ready to face your wobbly record player and look it in directly in the eye.

FAQs How to Fix a Wobbly Record Player