2. analog
  3. 1254252873

Graham Phantom II + Dynavector XV1's need help

Hi all, i have a Dynavector mounted on a Graham Phantom II. Turntable is Sota Cosmos IV.
I have set the overhang and zenith using a custom made MintLP.
VTF is set at 2.1g
VTA is set slightly above parallel at the arm's base.
Anti-skate weigh is set a bit less than midway on the shaft.
Azimuth is set with the mirror technique and it appears to be correct.
Test Record used is Cardas Frequency & Burn in record.

The Problem:

The stereo image is "tilted" to the right playing somewhat louder in the right channel. When playing a CD or FM Tuner, the image is perfectly centered.
I have tweaked azimuth, tilting a bit more to the left and to the right but to no avail.

On side 2 of that record when George speaks "greeting from the left channel then right channel then both channels", it is obvious that he comes out louder in the right channel.

Also, on side 1 there are 1KHz test tones in left, right and both channels.
When i play the test tone in the left channel and turn the balance control all the way to the right, i can hear the tone in the right channel and vice versa. Can this be described as a bad case of cross talk? Should/can the opposite channel be completely silent? I have done this test in stereo and mono (mono switch on the phono pre-amp).
Aside from a digital volt/ohm meter, i do not have electronic devices (re: O-scope, Wally tools) to adjust azimuth.

Any feedback appreciated.

smoffatt

Showing 2 responses by mikelavigne

mikelavigne
2,209 posts
 
the first thing i would do is clearly identify what is out of balance. don't assume anything.

play a mono Lp. you know it's got equal outputs on each side.

the easiest way to do this is to start with the speakers, then the amp, then the preamp, then the phono stage, then the phono cable, and then the cartridge. or do it in reverse order starting with the cartridge since you suspect it is cartridge related.

to check the cartridge reverse the wires to your cartridge pins.

red and green wires should be put on the white and blue pins and visa versa. if the imbalance switches to the other side it is cartridge or arm related.

you simply switch the right and left channels at each step. if the imbalance switches to the other side at a particular step you've isolated the problem. if it never changes you have no problem with imbalance in your system. something in your room could be causing the problem or your software.

i had this happen to me once; my amps have an impedence switch on the back for each channel. you change it depending on the type of cables that are used. i had accidently bumped that switch on one side which caused an imbalance. it was sure a head scratcher for awhile.
mikelavigne
2,209 posts
 
reversing the cartridge leads will either confirm or eliminate whether it's a cartridge/arm issue or not.

from there you either examine the rest of the signal path or consider the various cartridge and arm issues that have been mentioned.

messing around with arm set-up issues prior to confirming that the channel imbalance is actually in the cartridge is likely to be very frustrating in the long run.

first things first. isolate the problem. don't assume. reversing the cartridge leads and then putting them back should not affect set-up; it quick and simple.
More to discover