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Sony Turtable Leveling Problems?

Mit Mesaw

Mit Mesaw

New Member
My uncle gave me a Sony PS-LX33 turntable about six months ago. It was working great for a couple months and then I started to have some issues. I've been taking it back and forth to my local record store and the owner has worked on it and tried his best to help me figure it out. In fact, it worked perfectly whenever he plugged it in and ran it at the shop. He even let it play for four hours straight and had no issues. But as soon as I brought it home I had the same problem. The main problem is the right channel speaker crackles and cuts in and out. What I've discovered overtime is that if I gently lift the front or side of the turntable while the record is spinning it will start working. So I assume it's a leveling issue. But it seems to be different for every LP I put on the turntable. Kind of maddening. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
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Do you have the ability to try other turntables? Could your issue be more in the amplification than the turntable.

For the lifting, it is interesting, but I would lean toward coincidence does not mean cause.
 
Get one of these. They are cheap, easy to use and will let you know if leveling is the answer.
 

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welcomdmat said:
What else is there in your system? Your mention of the table working at the record shop sounds like there are other things going on at home.
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I took my entire setup to the record store, so he was only using my equipment.

Receiver is a Sony STR-VX 30. My speakers are Sony U560 3-ways.
 
I would remove the headshell and clean the contacts on the arm and back of headshell. Also make sure the connections from headshell to cartridge are clean and in good shape. Heck clean the contacts from RCAs to amp while you at at it.
 
welcomdmat said:
Do you have the ability to try other turntables? Could your issue be more in the amplification than the turntable.

For the lifting, it is interesting, but I would lean toward coincidence does not mean cause.
Click to expand...

Just tested the speakers and receiver by listening to the radio. Everything works perfectly while listening to the radio, so it has to be the turntable. I also tried leveling it with a round level and it didn't help.
 
I'd suspect the turntable interconnects are the problem. The shop probably set it up so that the wires flex differently than they do at home when you set it up. The way the wires run in your setup likely causes the right channel interconnect to have poor continuity that improves as the interconnect orientation changes when you lift the turntable.
 
absolon said:
I'd suspect the turntable interconnects are the problem. The shop probably set it up so that the wires flex differently than they do at home when you set it up. The way the wires run in your setup likely causes the right channel interconnect to have poor continuity that improves as the interconnect orientation changes when you lift the turntable.
Click to expand...
Interesting. So you're saying I may be able to reposition the wires to fix the issue? Like the a/v and speaker cables?
 
Update: if I unplug the AV cables and plug them back in, The audio sound fine for a little while. Any idea what that could mean? Do I need new AV cables?
 
You had indicated the problem is with the right speaker. I assume you have connected the right turntable interconnect to the right phono input of your receiver and the left turntable interconnects to the left phono input. Try switching to see if now the problem changes to the left speaker. If so, this isolates the problem to the turntable and not the receiver or speakers.
 
Mit Mesaw said:
Interesting. So you're saying I may be able to reposition the wires to fix the issue? Like the a/v and speaker cables?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing the red lead from the turntable right channel probably has an internal break that opens when the wires are flexed in a particular way, quite likely at the clamp that anchors the cables inside the turntable. You could try changing the way the cable flexes and lays to see if you can correct the problem and you should try reversing the hookup as mentioned above to confirm the problem changes channels but you probably should replace the interconnects if this is indeed your problem.
 
Still trying to figure this out. Update: if I unplug the AV cables while I record is playing and plug them back in then I get perfect audio for a little while. I haven't opened the turntable yet, but I'm not really sure what I'd be looking for. Haven't done a lot of electrical work.
 
Most definitely sounds like your interconnects. Just wiggle them a bit while your turntable is on. They wear out internally and then start doing exactly what you are describing.

Also be sure the female connectors on your receiver are clean (the connectors that you are plugging the turntable into).
 
How about starting at the beginning. What cartridge is it (is it old, vintage or new) and how is it wired in the headshell? The usual color coding is red wire for right +, green wire for right -, white wire for left +. blue wire for Left -.
 
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