amdan Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Hi guys, I need some confirmation of my diagnosis (or otherwise). The image from my vinyl playback is to the right of the centre between the two speakers. The drums appear about half way between the centre point and the right speaker. The vocals are also right of centre but not as far across as the drums. The image from my CD playback is correct. There is definitely sound coming from the left speaker during vinyl playback - just not as much as the right. 1. I switched the tone arm wire connections to the cartridge and the image moved to an identical position but on the left side of the centre point between the two speakers. 2. I switched the tone arm wire connections back and the image moved back to the right of the centre point between the speakers. 3. I then switched the tone arm wire connections to the phono stage i.e. swapped right with left and the image moved back to the left of centre - just like point 1 above. * I have a Michel Tecnoarm - the tonearm wires go directly to the phono stage - there is no need for an interconnect. I think that from the above we can conclusively say that there is a problem with my tone arm wires. Do you agree?
bzr Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 The only way to tell for sure would be another set of cables or a multi tester. Maybe it's your cartridge.
Guest Hensa Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Could be the tonearm cable but I'd have thought you haven't eliminated the cartridge as a possible source. Out of whack azimuth or anti-skate can lead to an image being off-centre. Reversing the tonearm cables should move the error to the other channel as has happened in your case.
willandra Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Hi guys, I need some confirmation of my diagnosis (or otherwise). The image from my vinyl playback is to the right of the centre between the two speakers. The drums appear about half way between the centre point and the right speaker. The vocals are also right of centre but not as far across as the drums. The image from my CD playback is correct. There is definitely sound coming from the left speaker during vinyl playback - just not as much as the right. 1. I switched the tone arm wire connections to the cartridge and the image moved to an identical position but on the left side of the centre point between the two speakers. I think that from the above we can conclusively say that there is a problem with my tone arm wires. Do you agree? No, I think this proves conclusively that the cartridge is the problem. The fault changed sides when you swapped the leads on the cartrdige - thus the same tone arm wires were connected to the same channels, but the problem shifted sides.
Guest Hensa Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 No, I think this proves conclusively that the cartridge is the problem. The fault changed sides when you swapped the leads on the cartrdige - thus the same tone arm wires were connected to the same channels, but the problem shifted sides. I think he may have cartridge tag to phono stage tonearm cables so when he switched the cartridge leads that was the same as switching the tone arm cables to the other channel so tonearm cables would still be in the mix for the fault.
Telecine Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Check continuity of your Tonearm wiring with a multi-meter.
amdan Posted June 28, 2015 Author Posted June 28, 2015 Thanks guys. After reading your responses and giving it some further thought I think my point 1. conclusively proves that the problem is upstream of the tonearm wires. When I swapped the right and left channels on the cartridge to tonearm wire connection, the image moved to the left. This shows that the left channel tonearm wire is working fine as it was able to transmit the right channel output from the cartridge correctly.
Full Range Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Do you have a mono switch to test the azimuth on that setting
amdan Posted June 28, 2015 Author Posted June 28, 2015 No I don't. Also, it is a Tecnoarm (Rega 250 rebuild). It does not have an azimuth adjustment. Azimuth comes guaranteed!!
ophool Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Use a mono recording and do some fooling around with the antiskate (bias) adjustment to see if you can centralise the image.
amdan Posted June 28, 2015 Author Posted June 28, 2015 OK. Some more info. I have tried my backup cartridge with the same results. So either both cartridge have the same issue or the problem is due to something else. Are there any setup parameters aside from azimuth that could have caused this? I have checked the turntable level. BTW I played Steely Dan's Gaucho (180 gm) and the problem is not as bad. Still off centre to the right but not as badly as the others. Will try some other records.
Graceman Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 You can't compare the imaging on a CD to the imaging on a vinyl disk as the mixing/processing will be different. You need a mono record, or a test disc. Lots of stereo recordings are mixed with certain instruments and voices off centre - that's what gives the width to a recording. Try more records.
amdan Posted June 28, 2015 Author Posted June 28, 2015 Thanks Graceman. I think that's good advice. Am now listening to a record with the image centred. Perhaps the last few records I heard were all bad. I will get a test record and try that method.......but what's to say that the test record is right? I could have a bad copy!
Graceman Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 As a starting point you have to go through your alignment again. The platter must be horizontal, the cartridge alignment spot on (use the arm manufacturers settings) and vertical. Make sure the cartridge is level and the tracking weight close to, or at, the maximum for the cartridge. Then use a test disc to set the bias, don't use a blank disk. Once you have set the alignment and you do the bias, make sure you only adjust one parameter at a time, otherwise you could be going round in circles for ever!
ophool Posted June 29, 2015 Posted June 29, 2015 A preamp with balance control can be a wondrous thing.
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