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Technics mk2- only 1 channel works in stereo mode

Embryos

Embryos

Active Member
Hello!
I recently purchased an MK2 for a very decent price. The TT works perfectly, with one exception. When im listening in stereo mode, i only get sound out of 1 speaker. When in mono, both speakers are audible. I disassembled the TT to inspect the RCA connections, they seem ok. Ive swapped cartridges, to no avail. Wiggled the jacks and wires a bit to see if there is a short somewhere..again, no change. I really would like to keep this TT, but not with this issue. Has anyone experienced this issue before? How much do you think it might cost if i had it professionally repaired?
Thank you all for your time and ideas.
 
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If you swap the left right cables into the amp, does it change which speaker it comes out of? If it does, it's your turntable with the issue. If it stays in the same speaker, your amp has the issue.
And remove the cartridge and you'll see 4 small pins in the tonearm connector. Get a toothpick or pin and push each pin in and out a few times- they are spring loaded and sometimes stick. But if it is the turntable, this is not usually a big fix as it's basically a thin wire from the tonearm to the arm board then soldered to the RCA cable which goes to the amp. There are no circuits involved.
 
You beat my post. Do you have a multimeter? This was you can see if it is the cable in the tonearm or the RCA cable. They can be bought online for under $10 for a cheap one.
 
bluehills5 said:
You beat my post. Do you have a multimeter? This was you can see if it is the cable in the tonearm or the RCA cable. They can be bought online for under $10 for a cheap one.
Click to expand...
Yes, when i swap wires on the receiver, the speaker swaps as well. You know, i did clean the connector pins in the tonearm, but i never realized they were spring loaded. Ill have to give that a shot, as far as seeing if tgey are stuck. I do own a multi meter, but im not very skilled with it... I guess i would be using it to find where the short is? I hate to ask you how, but if you have the time!!
 
You want to use the multimeter's continuity test feature. See this guide
http://imgur.com/a/lPqXd
But do not remove the wires like the video shows - just touch them to your multimeter probes.
And also each pin when you remove the headshell should also show continuity to the RCA cable.
 
Wow thank you. I will try this when i get home... Even if i can find the bad circuit, it is still strange that mono is working completely, even with the potentially bad circuit... One would believe that both stereo and mono would be effected.., again,, thank you!
 
The mono switch is acting as it should. It just joins the left and right channel together so what you are hearing is the one working channel going to both speakers.
 
Well, i have continuity all the way around! I guess thats good news. Any other possibilities you might know?
 
Did you check from the bayonet to the RCA's and everything was OK? If so I would be looking at the headshell wires or the pins in there. Apologies if you already did this, but it wasn't clear from the preceding posts. But it does sound like the wiring of your tonearm is OK, so the solutions are simpler now.
 
mprince said:
Did you check from the bayonet to the RCA's and everything was OK? If so I would be looking at the headshell wires or the pins in there. Apologies if you already did this, but it wasn't clear from the preceding posts. But it does sound like the wiring of your tonearm is OK, so the solutions are simpler now.
Click to expand...
 
Yes, i did in fact check from the bayonet to the RCAs,, and continuity was good all the way around. But i just hooked everything back up to test, and the problem persists. Still just one speaker in stereo, both speakers in mono.
 
maybe some corrosion on the contacts .. or the rca cable is faulty and when testing it happened to connect ..
swapping head-shell wires left for right may help if at all possible
 
petehall347 said:
maybe some corrosion on the contacts .. or the rca cable is faulty and when testing it happened to connect ..
swapping head-shell wires left for right may help if at all possible
Click to expand...
Yeah i got excited momentarily!! I used a couple different carts that i know are in working order, with no success. Well! I have this thing posted on ebay for a decent amount which someone already bid on, so worst comes to worst at least ill make a few dollars. Id Much rather have the TT of course!
 
Embryos said:
The TT works perfectly, with one exception. When im listening in stereo mode, i only get sound out of 1 speaker. When in mono, both speakers are audible.
Click to expand...
Does stereo mode mono mode mean setting of mode switch on amp?
If that is case then mode switch on amp needs clean or is faulty
Or phono switch possible I do not have schematic or know controls on your amplifier
Clean your switches on amp
JJ
 
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