Trying to track down cause of channel imbalance with turntable

[Asterisk3095]

Hello AudioKarma!

Recently I have noticed that something in my turntable setup is causing channel imbalance. The left channel is 3-4db louder than the right channel. When listening, it sounds like the center of the music is around my left eye

My setup is basically Grado Green3 cartridge -> Yamaha YP-B2 turntable -> Fluance PA10 phono preamp -> JDS Labs Element II headphone amp/DAC -> headphones (the model varies; I have a few pairs)

I’ve done some troubleshooting and I believe I have tracked the problem down to my Grado Green3 cartridge, or the stylus

I just want some extra confirmation because I’m not really in the mood to spend that much on a new cartridge haha, and would rather spend a bit less on a new stylus

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So far to troubleshoot I have:

1. Used a pc to input a mono signal into my headphone amp (sound was balanced so it’s not the amp)

2. Switches the left and right channels on my phono preamp (the channel imbalance switched sides, so it cannot be the preamp)

3. Tested the cartridge on a different turntable (left channel was still louder)

4. Realigned the cartridge, readjusted antiskate (same number as tracking force), readjusted the tracking force (1.75g), and readjusted the stylus overhang (also did not help with the channel imbalance)

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As far as I can tell, everything points to either the stylus or the cartridge being the problem.

I would say it’s the cartridge, except that the stylus does appear to be slightly bent (picture attached below)

However, I am unsure if this is off center enough to cause this much channel imbalance

 

[heyraz]

4. Realigned the cartridge, readjusted antiskate (same number as tracking force), readjusted the tracking force (1.75g), and readjusted the stylus overhang (also did not help with the channel imbalance)

Did you check the azimuth?
How old is your cartridge? The cantilever looks "pulled", perhaps by excessive anti-skate.

 

[Asterisk3095]

Did you check the azimuth?
How old is your cartridge? The cantilever looks "pulled", perhaps by excessive anti-skate.

I do not currently have an azimuth alignment tool, but I did put the stylus onto a mirror, and it did not look like the azimuth was off

My cartridge is less than a year old, and I do not listen to records constantly (I'd say maybe around 75-100 hours total right now); I doubt it's worn

It was also bent like this right when I bought it, but at the time I did not notice any audio problems, and I ignored it. Perhaps the imbalance was there all along, and I only noticed it recently

I have seen that Grado recommends no antiskate with their cartridges, but as I understand it having no antiskate applied will wear down records faster, so I'm a little confused by that
Perhaps the antiskate is the culprit but I do not think this is likely

 

[heyraz]

I have seen that Grado recommends no antiskate with their cartridges, but as I understand it having no antiskate applied will wear down records faster, so I'm a little confused by that
Perhaps the antiskate is the culprit but I do not think this is likely

The subject of Grado and Antiskate has been beaten to death....over and over and over. I don't that's the cause of your channel imbalance.

You might have a bad cartridge. Try reaching out to Grado with your findings and see if you can return it for evaluation.

 

[Asterisk3095]

The subject of Grado and Antiskate has been beaten to death....over and over and over. I don't that's the cause of your channel imbalance.

You might have a bad cartridge. Try reaching out to Grado with your findings and see if you can return it for evaluation.

That's what I feared

Unfortunately I very stupidly threw away my receipt when I bought the cartridge from a *local retailer*, so I do not think I'll be able to return it/go through the warranty process

Thank you for the help! I guess it's time for me to get a new cartridge. I was planning on eventually upgrading to a Gold3 anyways, so I guess this is a sign haha!

 

[Asterisk3095]

The subject of Grado and Antiskate has been beaten to death....over and over and over. I don't that's the cause of your channel imbalance.

You might have a bad cartridge. Try reaching out to Grado with your findings and see if you can return it for evaluation.

I do have a couple more questions though if you don't mind me asking (I see you have a Grado cart as well)

1. How big of a difference would you say there is if I were to go up from one of Grado's lower end mm styluses, up to their cheapest mc stylus (Opus3)?

2. If I were to upgrade to a mc cartridge, how exactly does it work when the stylus wears out? Would you have to get an entirely new cartridge, or could you send it directly to Grado to get refurbished?

 

[tabarddn51]

It could be that one channel is giving more output than the other. Switch the cart tonearm wires around & see if it happens on the other side.

Cheers

 

[Asterisk3095]

It could be that one channel is giving more output than the other. Switch the cart tonearm wires around & see if it happens on the other side.

Cheers

Those would be the red+white wires yes? If one channel does have a higher output than the other though, what would that tell me exactly?

 

[heyraz]

If your tonearm is a good match, I think the Opus cartridge will be a major improvement over the Prestige series.
Unfortunately, the Opus series stylus is not user replaceable.

I tend to upgrade while replacing...but that can become a rabbit hole.

 

[Asterisk3095]

If your tonearm is a good match, I think the Opus cartridge will be a major improvement over the Prestige series.
Unfortunately, the Opus series stylus is not user replaceable.

I tend to upgrade while replacing...but that can become a rabbit hole.

Oh yes for sure! That's why I was planning on sticking to cartridges with user replaceable styluses; I get pretty obsessive when it comes to upgrades

By the way, it's definitely the cartridge I think. I probably shouldn't have done this, but I was getting a new one anyways so oh well.
I nudged the stylus the other way, so it's bent a super tiny bit to the right; now audio is balanced, and it still sounds good (i'm using a crap thrift store record to test, so nothing is being damaged)
I have concluded that audio still would not be balanced even if the stylus was perfectly centered, and therefore it's the cartridge

 

[CrSens]

Oh yes for sure! That's why I was planning on sticking to cartridges with user replaceable styluses; I get pretty obsessive when it comes to upgrades

By the way, it's definitely the cartridge I think. I probably shouldn't have done this, but I was getting a new one anyways so oh well.
I nudged the stylus the other way, so it's bent a super tiny bit to the right; now audio is balanced, and it still sounds good (i'm using a crap thrift store record to test, so nothing is being damaged)
I have concluded that audio still would not be balanced even if the stylus was perfectly centered, and therefore it's the cartridge

Most cartridges have some degree of channel imbalance, by many manufacturers it is specified as within 2 dB. Anything more than that is excessive and manufacturing defect. I am pretty sure nice people at Grado would replace your cartridge even without the purchase receipt if you explain the problem to them.

 

[tabarddn51]

Hi Yes, the cart attachment wires. If you all 4 swap them over & the fault reverses, the means that one cart channel is higher than the other. If it is, thin this is quite an easy fix.

Cheers

 

[twiiii]

Do the phono wires connect directly to the cartridge or does the cartridge mount to a platform that is screwed to the head shell where contacts are involved. I always saw that problem with Grado and Empire arms back in the 60's 70's and 80's. Thats why I changed to SME arms. But then I had to clean the head shell contacts and the connections at the base of the tone arm, too. So I now use a Rabco arm for the Thorens table and of cource the Fat boy arm with the Mark Levinson Turntable.. Now problems so far. The rabco and Thorens are pushing 50 years old the Levinson VPI is over two years old.

Remember to stay away with anything that has 1/4 phone plugs they are guaranteed to frustrate you. Older RCA connectors that aren't gold plated are another cause of indigestion.

 

[Asterisk3095]

Update: I went out and bought a new cartridge today (Grado Gold3). Not having channel imbalance issues anymore, and I am quite enjoying the upgrade in sound quality.

 

[unionista]

Now... back to that rabbit hole... is the 8MZ stylus still available for that Grado cart?

 

[Asterisk3095]

Now... back to that rabbit hole... is the 8MZ stylus still available for that Grado cart?

It *is* still available on Grado's web store last I checked, and will fit on any Prestige cartridge (including the Gold3 cart) as per the description on the web store.