Replacement cartridges only plays on one stereo channel

[K Mutchler]

Does anyone know why 2 new cartridges will only produce sound on one channel. First cart from Audio Technica and second from Ortofon. Got TT used with Accutex cart, this works both channels, proving all connections to amplifier are fine. Lastly tried to crimp leads to see if there might be a problem, but problem still persists.

Dual CS-508, original cart - 80-90s era Accutex 207 (Accutex imported / manufacturer ?)

Tried Audio Technica VM95E and Ortofon OM5E

 

[loudnoises]

Common ground cart vs not common ground?

Could be one of the ground signals between cart and phono pre isn't making it on the two single channel carts.

Have a meter? With the pins are not connected to the cartridge, do you have continuity on all 4 from headshell to rca plug?

 

[dankik]

Make sure that your wires from the headshell to the cartridge are correct.

 

[K Mutchler]

Common ground cart vs not common ground?

Could be one of the ground signals between cart and phono pre isn't making it on the two single channel carts.

Have a meter? With the pins are not connected to the cartridge, do you have continuity on all 4 from headshell to rca plug?

Thanks for your reply I currently don't have a meter. It is perplexing that the cart that came with will work when I reinstall it on both channels just fine, but neither I got as replacements will work with both channels.

 

[K Mutchler]

Make sure that your wires from the headshell to the cartridge are correct.
View attachment 3823064View attachment 3823065

Thanks for your reply, I have double check they are correct.

 

[krautmaster]

Make sure that your wires from the headshell to the cartridge are correct.
View attachment 3823064View attachment 3823065

Try reversing the wires (red & green on the left and white & blue on the right)- the Rega Exact carts that came on my P3's were reversed like that and didn't work when I put them on the "correct" way.

Also check the azimuth closely, the cart may be tilted one way or another and not level from the inboard to outboard side... the side that is lower will make sound, the other not so much (common problem on junky Rega cartridges-one guy resorted to shoving paper shims on his to try to fix the problem):

 

[sound hound]

So you are using the same HS sled for each cartridge and just remounting them on the one sled? If so, I wonder if the pins on the new cartridges are maybe smaller and so they are not making a good connection with the pins of the sled. It might be that the pins on the sled are oxidized. It is pretty unlikely that both of the new cartridges are bad. That's why it can be helpful to procure a DMM as @loudnoises asked about.

 

[borchee]

Thanks for your reply, I have double check they are correct.

Just to make sure...

Did you check the pins' markings on the cartridges? The layout of them is not the same, as one might falsly conclude from post #3 (it shows the Audio Technica layout)...at least not between the Audio Technica and Ortofon; don't know about the Accutex, but going with what you describe, it's likely different as well.

Here's Ortofon's:

 

[AudioFeline]

The "standard" pin coding's for cartridges are not standard. Always double-check the cart's documentation to see if it has a non-standard pinout, esp. if you have difficulties.
A continuity tester (or multimeter) is an essential piece of audio maintenance equipment, and these days can be quite cheap - and the cheap ones are perfectly good for continuity checking. The continuity test can check that all leads are making contact (eg. from the headshell wire to the tonearm's RCA). A resistance test can check for continuity inside the cart.

 

[K Mutchler]

I was attempting to work with the leads in different configurations, but in the process one of the ferrules pulled off the wire. Tried to repair, but that did not go well, so at this point I am at an impasse. There may be head-shells available that replicate the old Dual 1/2 cart conversion, that said their contact points don't appear to be exact to what I have so I am hesitant to get one. Already spent more on the cart upgrade than on the TT itself. In addition to checking the connections for good contact and placement I did get a Dual gauge for alignment on their tone arm, maybe that rules out the azimuth adjustment. In the future whether I replace the head-shell or get another used TT, if needed I will get a meter.

Thanks to all for your replies

 

[dankik]

Tried to repair, but that did not go well

It should be an easy repair. Strip a bit of insulation, tin the wire and solder the tip back together.
If you totally destroyed it, you can buy leads from Amazon for about $10. You might need to strip and solder the other end, depending on how it is attached to your headshell.
Why don't you post a photo of your headshell and cart for all of us to see instead of guessing.

 

[AudioFeline]

I was attempting to work with the leads in different configurations, but in the process one of the ferrules pulled off the wire...

FYI, it's good practice to usesmall jeweller's needle-nose pliers to manage headshell wires, they are cheap now. Always pull from the back of the ferrule, not the wire, and not where the ferrule attaches to the headshell/cart pins.

 

[Mr Boochie]

FYI, it's good practice to usesmall jeweller's needle-nose pliers to manage headshell wires, they are cheap now. Always pull from the back of the ferrule, not the wire, and not where the ferrule attaches to the headshell/cart pins.

I use a bent needle-nose pair of pliers.

 

[dankik]

I looked up the wiring specs for the three carts you mentioned above. ALL three are DIFFERENT.
Make sure that you connected them correctly. Please post a photo of your wiring for each one.


Your Dual cartridge adapter should look something like this:

 

[K Mutchler]

I looked up the wiring specs for the three carts you mentioned above. ALL three are DIFFERENT.
Make sure that you connected them correctly. Please post a photo of your wiring for each one.

View attachment 3824017
Your Dual cartridge adapter should look something like this:
View attachment 3824040

Yes that is what they show, but the first 2 pics are of what I have. Green wire did not survive repair attempt, white wire detached at soldered joint. Last pic from TT retail site shows the actual Dual kit 269-611, sadly it is out stock. I suspect it will unlikely ever be restocked. Getting new leads is a maybe of course I need to learn to de-solder and re-solder. I maybe could do it with the help of a 3rd hand tool.

​

 

[Hajidub]

Yes that is what they show, but the first 2 pics are of what I have. Green wire did not survive repair attempt, white wire detached at soldered joint. Last pic from TT retail site shows the actual Dual kit 269-611, sadly it is out stock. I suspect it will unlikely ever be restocked. Getting new leads is a maybe of course I need to learn to de-solder and re-solder. I maybe could do it with the help of a 3rd hand tool.

​

Worst case, ship the sled and wire(s) to another AK'er, I'm sure anyone with a soldering iron would solder it for you. Maybe even someone local to you.

 

[dankik]

Yes that is what they show, but the first 2 pics are of what I have.

What I am asking is: when you tried the Audio Technica and Ortofon cartridges to test, and you only got sound from one channel, did you wire it correctly... because all three are wired differently?
Please tell me how you had each of the three cartridges wired when one channel did not work.

See my DM to you.

 

[K Mutchler]

I apologize for my late reply, I did follow the color coded wiring correctly. I matched the colors of each wire to the color on each cartridge. Accutex just has left/right - +/-, the instructions from Ortofon list right/left with their color codes. Sent back the Audio Technica, but everything should have matched up with either one. Looking in to ordering new leads to hopefully with care repair the headshell and try again with the Ortofon.