Scratching requires a special set of turntable needles that can withstand and perform under demanding conditions. The best DJ needles for scratching emphasize every frequency range, reduce surface noise, inflict minimal wear and tear on vinyl records, resist skipping and produce a high output voltage.
Below are a few of the best scratching needles on the market.
Shure’s Whitelabel Needle
The Whitelabel Needle has a small group of dedicated followers so it can’t be left out of the list. Its price and performance are attractive but its low output makes it no competition for other needles made by Ortofon, Shure and Trackmaster.
Ortofon Q-Bert Scratch
No DJ’s equipment wish list is complete without Ortofon needles. The Danish company has been producing beautiful, powerful needles since the early 1900s. A real mix of style and power, Ortofon needles stand apart from the crowd. One of two scratch needles released by Ortofon is the Q-Bert Scratch needle named after, you guessed it, legendary DJ Q-Bert. The Q-Berts are considered the most powerful of the three and are tailored to hip-hop scratch DJs.
The Q-Bert’s reduction of surface noise and accentuation of mid-range sound makes it arguably the best scratching needle available. In keeping with company’s tradition of style meeting function, the Q-Bert’s design also sets this needle apart from the rest. The only downside to Ortofon needles is their high price point.
Shure M44-7s
This needle is legendary among scratch DJs. It has been recommended for its excellent tracking, high output volume and low vinyl wear. The low price of this needle also makes it a great investment. For less than $60, this needle offers the most bang for your buck. The only complaint about this needle is its tendency to collect dust after prolonged use on un-cleaned records.
Stanton Trackmaster.V3
This needle was designed for scratching and mixing. Through hours of scratching, these needles can hold up and track just as well as when the scratching started. Even with heavy handed scratching, the needles never leave the groove. The sound quality of the V3s is where they fall slightly short, however they do successfully eliminate hum and background noise.
The post The Best DJ Needles for Scratching appeared first on DJ Master Course.