Brand New Vinyl Static and Pops

The question was not whether the stylus was intact but whether the body of the cartridge is contacting the surface of the LP. If you can see debris on the tip of the stylus (probably shouldn't call it a needle), then your LP is grossly dirty OR you've got a very dusty environment maybe augmented by static charge. But first, does the body of the cartridge contact the LP at any time in the course of play?

Thanks lew.

The answer to that question is no.

I used a magnifying glass and I didn't see anything like that.

Also, it stopped "flubbing/muffling"

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