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Stereo/Mono Issue : Dual CS-5000

G

gemooky

New Member
I have 3 Dual CS-5000's. 1 works great, 1 is a donor, and the 3rd has been problematic for months, but I'd like it to be a daily spinner.

Here is the current issue: The left channel does not play when receiver stereo/mono switch set to stereo, but both speakers play when set to mono. Other data below:
  • Headshell is original.
  • Cartridge is Ortifon OM, not sure how old.
  • I tested on two vintage receivers, same problem: Yamaha CR-600 and Yamaha CR-820.
  • I switched the left and right feeds into the receiver, confirmed left channel from turntable.
  • When I touch the arm and headshell I hear a hum, sometimes quite loud. (Normal?)
  • Ground connection is solid on back of receiver.
  • Other sources on both receivers play both channels w/ other sources (FM & AUX)
  • I am not a tech and would need to take in for repair, so would like to troubleshoot before incurring expense.
UPDATE: I tried another stylus: the left channel is no longer "dead" but plays about 1/2 as loud as right. Went back to stylus #1> Left channel dead again. NOTE: Stylus 1: after market (new), Stylus 2 OM20 Came with used unit.

Open to all ideas. Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
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twiiii said:
Clean head shell contacts.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I tried cleaning them, no difference. I am a novice and did so based on YouTube videos.
When cleaning, is it best to focus on?
  • The female ends on the headshell
  • The male pins in the arm
  • The wire connections at the cartridge
I tried all three, used a tiny soft brush made for flossing and a pencil eraser.
Thanks again. Regards.
 
gemooky said:
I have 3 Dual CS-5000's. 1 works great, 1 is a donor, and the 3rd has been problematic for months, but I'd like it to be a daily spinner.

Here is the current issue: The left channel does not play when receiver stereo/mono switch set to stereo, but both speakers play when set to mono. Other data below:
  • Headshell is original.
  • Cartridge is Ortifon OM, not sure how old.
  • I tested on two vintage receivers, same problem: Yamaha CR-600 and Yamaha CR-820.
  • I switched the left and right feeds into the receiver, confirmed left channel from turntable.
  • When I touch the arm and headshell I hear a hum, sometimes quite loud. (Normal?)
  • Ground connection is solid on back of receiver.
  • Other sources on both receivers play both channels w/ other sources (FM & AUX)
  • I am not a tech and would need to take in for repair, so would like to troubleshoot before incurring expense.
Open to all ideas. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

UPDATE: I tried another stylus: the left channel is no longer "dead" but plays about 1/2 as loud as right. Went back to stylus #1> Left channel dead again. NOTE: Stylus 1: after market (new), Stylus 2 OM20 Came with used unit.
 
I believe that the CS-5000's have removable headshells. Swap the headshells from the Dual that works fine and the problematic one (and clean the contacts in the arm when you remove the headshell if you haven't done so already).

- If the "good turntable" headshell sounds turntable sounds fine in the "problem turntable", you know that the problem is in the headshell/cart that you removed. Try the "problem turntable" headshell in the "good turntable" and see if the problem is replicated.
-If the "good turntable" headshell sounds turntable sounds bad in the "problem turntable", you know that the problem is likely to be in the wiring inside the arm or the interconnects going out of the bad turntable.
 
That is very good advice. The turntables or 100 miles apart, but should be able to make that happen in the next 10 days. Will report back. Thanks.
 
gemooky said:
That is very good advice. The turntables or 100 miles apart, but should be able to make that happen in the next 10 days. Will report back. Thanks.
Click to expand...
If the turntable has a standard SME style headshell, any other working turntable should be OK for the checking. The turntables don't need to be 100 miles apart!
 
AudioFeline said:
If the turntable has a standard SME style headshell, any other working turntable should be OK for the checking. The turntables don't need to be 100 miles apart!
Click to expand...

The CS 5000 does not use an Ortofon/SME/JIS type headshell. Uses a Dual headshell from this era. And my money is on his stock interconnects being the culprit (they're also a known weakness on Dual, and on Thorens of this era with stock tonearms).
 
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