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I am at the end of my rope, please help

I have a problem that I can not solve and makes no sense to me at all.
My right channel is stronger than my left by a large margin. I can plug my tonearm cable directly into a Fozgometer (measures left and right output) and I get a substantially stronger signal on the right side. I confirmed this with my Voltmeter to make sure there was not a problem with the Fozgometer. So, as far as I can tell, this narrows the problem down to the Cart, Tonearm, Tonearm wire or the table.

Here is what I have tried:
1. Changed Azimuth in both directions. Small change but still much stronger on the right side.
2. Changed antiskating. Very little change.
3. replaced the cartridge. No Change.
4. replaced the tonearm and cartridge. No Change.
5. replaced the tonearm, cartridge and tonearm wire. No change.
6. I have used a second test record. No Change
My turntable is perfectly level.
I simply do not see how this is possible! I have an $83,000 system that I can not listen to. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

My system:
DaVinci Turntable > Lyra Titan i > Schroeder Reference tonearm > Manley Steelhead > Stealth Indra cables > VTL 450 amps > Stealth Mlt speaker cables > Vienna acoustic Mahler speakers
audioraider

Showing 2 responses by ddriveman

ddriveman
171 posts
 
Hi AutoRaider,

Since you are using the Fosgate Fozgometer to help diagnose your issue, I thought you should be aware of the following advise that I receive from Audio Revelation when I bought a Fozgometer from them: "The "Right" channel shows about 1.5db higher than left. I've tried 3 Fosgates and all the same, so account for this when doing measurements. You can tell by switching the phono leads while doing the balance check. Its a small amount but good to know. Also, for me and 3 other customers we found directions on Fozgate backwards for which way to turn the headshell in adjustment. Whatever instructions say, try reverse: clockwise instead of counterclockwise! I know, crazy!"
So just be aware that the Fozgometers may not be perfectly balance itself.
FWIW. Anyone else seem the same characteristics with their Fozgometer??
ddriveman
171 posts
 
Hi Audioraider,

I reread your problem statement again amdit is puzzling especially since you ahev mounted a new cartridge and problem remains. So, it seems like its down to the arw or TT. Assuming its not the wiring for a minute (which you will know soon with your reiwred toenarm coming), then we have to aask if there is a mechanical problem with eitehr your amr or TT. You have said that your TT is level but what about your arm? Could you arm on its mounting board be slightly tilted? If you set the VTF to zero and balance the arm/cartridge to be level, does the arm tend to swing inward or outwards? Maybe your toenarm cabling is giving a little bias? Anyway, just my 2 cents.
Hang in there and don't give up. Get someone else to come listen and take a look. When I get a problem, it is sometimes good for me to just walk away and then come back to the problems a few days later and get someone to listen in also.
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