Turntable upgrade stereo sound field issue

sk3lph · 30 Dec 2017 at 18:08

I've upgraded my turntable and I think there is a problem with the stereo sound field on the new table which can be heard in the two recordings I made with the same LP and recording equipment -

Old turntable recording clip

New turntable recording clip

First of all some reassurance that I'm not hearing things would be good and also some theories as to what the problem could be would be helpful - my current suspect is the cartridge although I'm going to do a continuity check with a multimeter on the arm to be sure.

lucid · 30 Dec 2017 at 19:48

Check the channel phasing on the cartridge leads.

sk3lph · 30 Dec 2017 at 19:55

lucid said:
Check the channel phasing on the cartridge leads.

Great to have you back Lucid, yes checked and the connections are correct.

lucid · 30 Dec 2017 at 20:46

Thanks. My return may be short-lived if the mods are going to be difficult again, but thank you and it's nice to be here while I can.

Next thing, do a continuity check between the back of the cartridge pins and the phono plug ends

The shields should go to each ground; left for left, right for right

R+ should go to red phono plug tip

L+ should go to white phono plug tip

This will tell us if the intermediary connections inside the arm tube/base pillar are correct.

It might be my imagination, but it sounded like the RP6 was running slow. Water's bass strings sounded floppy, if you know what I mean?

Have you checked the spindle bearing for oil?

sk3lph · 30 Dec 2017 at 21:00

I did wonder why you had disappeared and am a bit mystified that the mods would have an issue, all your posts to me are really helpful.

Anyway, I'm getting a hold of a meter tomorrow to do the continuity check - do I need to unplug the cartridge connections for this?

Will try a speed check once I've sorted this issue out.

lucid · 30 Dec 2017 at 21:25

I don't know if you really need to pull the cartridge wires. Here's my Dynavector. It was possible to move the little sleeves to expose the metal of the contacts. You might be able to do the same. It's easier to hold a probe on a supported point rather than on a loose wire while also juggling the other probe on the tip or shield of a loose phono plug.

sk3lph · 31 Dec 2017 at 13:05

Just tested the connections on the arm and I did remove the small plugs from the cartridge to be sure and tested them one at a time plugged into a post on the cartridge and they had continuity exactly as described above and made sure there was no continuity anywhere else, so nothing is wrong with the turntable in this respect. A nerve-wracking thing to do considering how expensive the components are.
Cartridge is now removed and ready to go back to the dealer, but of course nothing more can happen now until Tuesday. :mad:

Thanks for the help Lucid.

kitfit1 · 31 Dec 2017 at 14:03

@sk3lph, is your cartridge Moving magnet or moving coil ? Some moving magnet carts have a metal foil grounding tear off strip that needs to be torn off depending on the type of grounding used on the arm.

sk3lph · 31 Dec 2017 at 14:17

kitfit1 said:
@sk3lph, is your cartridge Moving magnet or moving coil ? Some moving magnet carts have a metal foil grounding tear off strip that needs to be torn off depending on the type of grounding used on the arm.

Its the Rega Ania MC cartridge.

sk3lph · 4 Jan 2018 at 13:17

The Ania has been tested and the Dealer has unfortunately said that he can't find anything wrong with it and it's working as it should. He is kindly sending me a different one to be sure so I'll hopefully get that tomorrow. We have established that the input impedance for the cartridge should be set to 100 ohms on the Rega Fono, but I'm not sure if this would impact the channel separation.

The only other thing I can try if there is still a problem, is to install the Ania onto the P2 and see what that sounds like and also try the ADC with the P6.