Linn Kairn MC input muddy

Hi All -

I've been having some weird channel problems with my system, and I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that can make sense of this before I wind up sending my amp in for repairs, or dropping a bunch of cash on a new amp.

Here's the Problem:
I've been having some weird channel problems with my system, and I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that can make sense of this before I wind up sending my amp in for repairs (I live far, far from any Linn technicians), or dropping a bunch of cash on a new amp.

This is my input setup:

Lenco L75 -> Linn Kairn -> 3 100watt monoblocks -> Linn Kaber 3-way active speakers. These are connected to a power conditioner, which in turn is plugged into the wall (ground tests fine).

phono stage mc input: works with all types of phono input, but seems muddy.

Because it sounds muddy, as an experiment I tried using an Adcom pre-amp, routed into the "aux" port. It's an Adcom GFP 555II, if that makes a difference.

So here's where it gets weird . . .

Situation No. 1:
Lenco L75 -> Adcom -> Linn (aux) . . . TT sounds much brighter, but left channel gives that wierd linn buzzing sound for a second, then nothing in the left speaker. If I switch the Linn into MONO, sound comes from both speakers.

I thought maybe the aux input was the problem, so I tried "tape 1" and "tape 2", just for the hell of it . . . same results.

I double checked with a different TT to make sure I wasn't loosing one of my channels through bad tone arm wiring or something. Nope.

Situation No 2:
I double checked by running my CEC through the Adcom . . .

CEC CD -> Adcom "cd input" - > Linn (aux) . . . Sounds GREAT. Both channels are fine. This is true if I run it into the "tape 1" or "tape 2" inputs as well. NO PROBLEMS with the Linn or Adcom at all in this scenario.

. . . .
The problem with the Linn started occuring last spring when the weather got very dry here in southwestern Colorado. I was experiecing MAJOR static problems, and this is when the MC input started sounding muddy. But that's when I started circumventing it with the Adcom as a pre-amp . . . which worked, with both channels fine, for a while, but then, with that heavy static, started loosing the left channel. I went from one port (aux, tape 1, tape 2) to the other, where it would work for a while, then . . . I'd lose the channel. I thought it was the Linn, because when I'd switch the output from the adcom into a new port, presto, both channels were back.

But now I get zero left channel output from the Adcom, in any of the inputs, when using my TT, but great sound and both channels when using my CD player. And I'm left with a muddy sounding MC input on the Linn . . . meaning I can't listen to my records, or at least I can't enjoy them. I have a new cartridge arriving tomorrow (benz ebony H), which will be great, but maybe not so great through a muddy MC input on the Linn.

If you have read this far, and understand this, does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone have any experience with a phono stage that once sounded very nice going all muddy?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts . . . I'm going to post this in the AMPs forum, too . . .