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TT Balance Issues - Post Dog Attack

prighello

prighello

not all who wander are lost
Hi Folks,

I'm pretty sure my dog jacked up my turntable. He attacked it when I left the cover open and now it has channel balance issues...the left channel is wayyy stronger than the right. This only happens when using the TT so I know its not a speaker/amp issue.

The tracking force and anti-skate were not altered he just knocked the tonearm across a record so I'm guessing the cart is messed up? Can these things be salvaged or should I just get a new cart?

TT is a AT LP120usb with an AT95E cart.
 
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boreas said:
+1. It's unlikely that the cartridge was damaged but very possible that the cantilever or the stylus tip took a hit.

John
Click to expand...

If the cantilever visually looks good how can one tell if it is bad? The stylus is tiny so looking at it doesn't say a whole lot to me about it's condition. I guess I could just replace the stylus/cantilever...seems like there's very little price diff between this and buying the whole cart though.
 
If the cantilever is straight, not rotated and without obvious signs of damage, it's probably okay. To tell whether there is any damage to the actual stylus, you need to magnify it at least 50x with a microscope or loupe.

The diamond and cantilever are by far the most expensive part of a cartridge. Seeing a price for a replacement stylus that's most of the cost for a whole cartridge is the rule, rather than the exception.

John
 
prighello said:
Hi Folks,

I'm pretty sure my dog jacked up my turntable. He attacked it when I left the cover open and now it has channel balance issues...the left channel is wayyy stronger than the right. This only happens when using the TT so I know its not a speaker/amp issue.

The tracking force and anti-skate were not altered he just knocked the tonearm across a record so I'm guessing the cart is messed up? Can these things be salvaged or should I just get a new cart?

TT is a AT LP120usb with an AT95E cart.
Click to expand...
My first question would be whether one side sounds stronger than the other or one weaker. Yeah, that sounds silly, but think this way: is the side that is now louder the same as it was before the dog incident? If so then something has probably happened to the contact of the wires in the head area I would think. If the weaker side is as always and the other channel louder it is a whole different kettle of fish. Is the stronger side now distorted? Knowing that makes a difference in thinking as well.
 
Here's a pic. I'd have to say the right side sounds weaker as in the output is lower than before while the left is normal or as before.
 

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prighello said:
Here's a pic. I'd have to say the right side sounds weaker as in the output is lower than before while the left is normal or as before.
Click to expand...

You might want to see whether one of the magnets has been dislodged or displaced. The magnets are the little blackish "wings" that are attached to the rear of the cantilever and extend down into the body of the cartridge. If you're not sure how to tell this, remove the stylus assembly and give us a photo of just that, as viewed from the underside.

John
 
Never leave your dust cover up when playing Meatloaf, dogs love meatloaf. You're gonna need another cartridge/stylus to isolate whether the issue is TT related or needle related.
 
Hajidub said:
Never leave your dust cover up when playing Meatloaf, dogs love meatloaf. You're gonna need another cartridge/stylus to isolate whether the issue is TT related or needle related.
Click to expand...

No not really. Just swap the left and right pairs of cartridge leads, the head shell leads really. If the low channel stays where it is at, then it is a problem with the cartridge. If it moves, then it is a problem with the turntable, likely the tone arm wiring. If it goes away, well then it was a loose wire.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Well, I tried to pry that green piece off but it wasn't really moving so I didn't push it for fear of breaking it. I reset the pins in the tone arm and now all is well so I guess that's what it was. Thanks for the all advice.
 
Mister Pig said:
No not really. Just swap the left and right pairs of cartridge leads, the head shell leads really. If the low channel stays where it is at, then it is a problem with the cartridge. If it moves, then it is a problem with the turntable, likely the tone arm wiring. If it goes away, well then it was a loose wire.

Regards
Mister Pig
Click to expand...

Touche, very good advice!
 
prighello said:
Well, I tried to pry that green piece off but it wasn't really moving so I didn't push it for fear of breaking it. I reset the pins in the tone arm and now all is well so I guess that's what it was. Thanks for the all advice.
Click to expand...
Glad you solved things, the result we all pray for!
 
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