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Conference hips::uk_audioo

Title:	You get surface noise in real life too
Notice:	Let's be conformist
Moderator:	GOVT02::BARKER

Created:	Thu Jul 28 1988
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	550
Total number of notes:	3847

301.0. "Turntable favours left hand channel" by MARVIN::WARWICK (Trevor Warwick) Wed Aug 07 1991 23:43

    
    My system contains a Rega II that I bought 2nd hand through this
    conference. It has a Goldring Epic cartridge, which was new when I got
    the turntable, the previous owner having retained the K9 he was using
    in it before.
    
    I've recently noticed that the soundstage is rather skewed towards the
    left-hand channel. It may have always been like that. Can this sort of
    thing be caused by cartridge misalignment ? As my amp. has no balance
    control, I don't have an easy solution.
    
    Trevor

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
301.1	Cartridge ?	CRATE::WATSON	Blood on the Rooftops	`Thu Aug 08 1991 09:27`	12
	Trevor, I've never heard of cartridge misalignment causing a soundstage shift but I have heard cartridges do this. I don't know the Goldring Epic but have heard an A&R P77 which did this (Which A&R replaced FOC even though it was partially worn out). As the Rega-2 headshell is removable you could try swapping with a friends... Sorry I can't be of any more help, Rik
301.2		FORTY2::SHIPMAN		`Thu Aug 08 1991 11:07`	16
	Yes, it could, but you might also have broken the cartridge when you fitted it. If part of the suspension isn't working properly, the cantilever will sit at an angle when it's playing a record and you'll get this kind of effect, perhaps with tonal differences too. You might see the cantilever move sideways when you place it on the record - this is normally a sign of the bias force being seriously (and damagingly) wrong. It's obviously easier to see on high-compliance cartridges. Do you also have difficulty finding a good bias setting? If this is the case it won't track too well and will eat your records. Check very carefully. Having said that, many cartridges have varying degrees of channel imbalance, or don't have the cantilever exactly parallel with the sides of the body. Nick
301.3	I guess you've already done this...	SUBURB::SCREENER	Robert Screene, UK Finance EUC	`Thu Aug 08 1991 13:55`	16
	I'm not into such technical things, but... Isolate the problem: If your turnatable has phono lead outputs, try swapping them over. If the problem channel moves to the other speaker, it's definitely the source. If it stays the same side then it's after the source. Try swapping round your left and right speaker leads, if it again stays on the same side you have isolated the problem to the speaker/speaker-wire. Otherwise suspect the amp and it's connections, perhaps (although it's doubtful) a line input has oxidised a little and needs cleaning off. Good luck, Robert.
301.4		WIKKIT::WARWICK	Trevor Warwick	`Thu Aug 08 1991 14:07`	3
	Ok, thanks for the suggestions. I will fiddle about a bit and see what I can discover.
301.5	don't forget the wires.....	BAHTAT::SALLITT		`Fri Aug 09 1991 11:21`	4
	It could also be a poor connection somewhere between the cartridge and phono plugs. Dave
301.6	They loosened my feet for me.	TASTY::JEFFERY	Make a new plan Stan	`Mon Aug 12 1991 23:05`	5
	Whatever, it may be worth taking it into someone like Reading HiFi to have a look at. They seemed pretty friendly, and may check it over for free. Mark.