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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
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 
To be certain about correct relative phase, forget the ohmmeter and just try switching the red and green cartridge clips.
sprog
37 posts
 
Have you thought about getting your ears checked? I had a right bias in my system many years ago in the way you describe and went to get my ears syringed - and it disappeared.

My left ear had a far greater buid-up of wax than the right, which was reducing the ability to hear high frequencies clearly.

Just a thought...
ddriveman
129 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??
audioraider OP
8 posts
 
Thanks Ddriveman, I will take that into account. I am at 5db but that does get me closer. As far as my hearing, I have thought about that but My CD player is perfectly balanced. I have to pull my spiked speaker forward 8" every time I want to listen to CD's. Just FYI, I have had 3 people email me with exactly the same problem, one of them has three of the most expensive tables in the world and many arms but on one table, no matter what cart or arm he uses he gets 5db higher on the right side. His other tables read perfectly. Thank god I am not alone with this problem.
ddriveman
129 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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