Technics SL1400 has more audio on left channel


Hello,
I have been experiencing an issue with my Technics Sl1400 recently where more audio is coming from the left channel than from the right channel. I am running a Shure V15 Type IV cartridge with a JICO SAS VN45HE. This cartridge has been on the turntable since the 70s, and I was wondering if perhaps it is the issue.

Ruling out groove wear, I have played the same record on my girlfriend’s turntable (Marantz 6025 that serves as our living room deck) and haven’t experienced the same issue.

Do I need to upgrade the wiring on the tonearm? Do I need a new cartridge, and does anyone have any recommendations as to what a good replacement would be? Do I need to somehow restore the cartridge I already have?

Thank you
420jjjazz666

Showing 1 response by 420jjjazz666

An easy check would be to take the Shure/headshell from the Technics and install it on the Marantz (I assume it’s arm has a removable headshell) and see if the issue is the same. At least that would narrow the problem to the Shure/Jico, or not.

So we switched the headshell/cart over to the Marantz and did not experience this imbalance of channels. Afterwards, I moved the headshell/cart back over to my TT to compare. She could not hear what I was talking about until I played a song off an album I have on both vinyl and CD in a back to back comparison. After this, I tried switching the turntable's L and R RCAs on the amp, and the quiet side was still quiet, just coming out of a different speaker. At this point, I'm thinking its either the wires in my tonearm, or the RCA cables on my TT.