Turntable Trouble: Sound Only From Left Channel
Discussion
Recently got a turntable and amp but having trouble getting it working.
Setup is as follows:
Cambridge Audio A1 amp (pre-owned)
Pro-Ject Essential II turntable, (pre-owned)
Pro-Ject MM Phono Box (new)
Sony bookshelf speakers from a mini system (mine, known to be working)
Now I cannot get sound out of both speakers simultaneously. I've tried the following:
Swapping RCA cables left to right - problem follows the channel, presumably meaning both channels on the amp work fine.
Swapping speaker cables left to right - problem follows the speaker, also the speakers were known to be working.
Try another input (phone jack to RCA cable lead) - works perfectly. Loud, clear, both channels working.
Try a different vinyl/record - same issue.
I have also tried the turntable in another stereo (admittedly only an aux-in, but was getting desperate), and whilst the lack of a pre-amp made it very quiet, it was still only one channel working.
Ordinarily this would point to the turntable being faulty, however this is the second turntable I've tried with this fault, so I'm wondering if I'm just doing something wrong. I've experimented with different counterweight settings, different anti-skate weight settings, to no avail.
This leads me to think (ignoring the previous turntable's problem) that its an issue with the cartridge wiring. The visible connectors are very noisy when touched, even with the ground wire in the back of the Pro-Ject MM Phono Box
Help - I just want to listen to my records!
Any suggestions? Have I possibly bought two duff turntables?
Setup is as follows:
Cambridge Audio A1 amp (pre-owned)
Pro-Ject Essential II turntable, (pre-owned)
Pro-Ject MM Phono Box (new)
Sony bookshelf speakers from a mini system (mine, known to be working)
Now I cannot get sound out of both speakers simultaneously. I've tried the following:
Swapping RCA cables left to right - problem follows the channel, presumably meaning both channels on the amp work fine.
Swapping speaker cables left to right - problem follows the speaker, also the speakers were known to be working.
Try another input (phone jack to RCA cable lead) - works perfectly. Loud, clear, both channels working.
Try a different vinyl/record - same issue.
I have also tried the turntable in another stereo (admittedly only an aux-in, but was getting desperate), and whilst the lack of a pre-amp made it very quiet, it was still only one channel working.
Ordinarily this would point to the turntable being faulty, however this is the second turntable I've tried with this fault, so I'm wondering if I'm just doing something wrong. I've experimented with different counterweight settings, different anti-skate weight settings, to no avail.
This leads me to think (ignoring the previous turntable's problem) that its an issue with the cartridge wiring. The visible connectors are very noisy when touched, even with the ground wire in the back of the Pro-Ject MM Phono Box
Help - I just want to listen to my records!
Any suggestions? Have I possibly bought two duff turntables?
What happens when you swap the inputs to the phono pre-amp, does the problem move with the cable swap or do you still only get sound from the same single channel. If the problem moves then the issue is the turntable, if the problem stays on the same channel then the issue is either the pre-amp or the cable connecting from pre-amp to the amplifier.
The loud noises as you touch things is perfectly normal as you are altering the system ground.
The loud noises as you touch things is perfectly normal as you are altering the system ground.
Good call! I swapped the pre amp wires and it wasn't them. Then I swapped all the wires to the cartridge, and whilst it was wired up incorrectly, wiring it correctly didn't fix anything.
Looks like it'll be going back.
This is the second one I've had that's been like this. Am I just unlucky?
Looks like it'll be going back.
This is the second one I've had that's been like this. Am I just unlucky?
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