Weak signal

[Terry]

Hi Guys
I need your help regarding a problem i have, ok here goes. I have just purchased a SME 3009 SII Improved tonearm and fitted a Shure M75ED Type 2 cartridge. i have set it all up as it should be only to find that the sound from the right channel is distorted and very weak (left channel is ok). I have googled the problem and come up with two of the same solutions but they say the opposite to each other, here is what they say -

#1 - Reverse the RCAs at your phono input. Does the weak channel stay put? If it does the problem is not your table, arm or cart. It is the phono preamp. If it swaps channels, switch back, then swap the L & R cart clips. If it stays the same, the problem is the arm wiring or ICs/RCAs. If it swaps, it is the cart.

#2 - Turn your amp off and try swapping the cartridge leads over - swap the red and white leads over and do the same for the green and blue leads. Turn the amp on again - if the sound is still only coming out of the same speaker that it was before the change then the problem is in the cartridge.If the sound now comes out of the other speaker i.e. it has changed channel then the cartridge is NOT the problem. Change the cartridge leads back again - not forgetting to switch off the amp first.

As you can see #1 says - If it swaps, it is the cart.
And #2 says - If the sound now comes out of the other speaker i.e. it has changed channel then the cartridge is NOT the problem.

I want to do the test but not sure which one is right now.

If you could let me know what you think i would be most greatful.

Terry

[struth]

#1:)

If it is bad from left and it was the cart then putting left side of cart through the right channel that was previously ok and it switches to that side then its the cart

[walpurgis]

First thing to check would be the headshell wiring. Make sure it looks like this:

http://i67.tinypic.com/v4wiuc.jpg

Check the connections to the cartridge pins are correct too.

[Bigman80]

Have you done it yet ?

[Terry]

Thanks for your answers, i have done the test and it stayed where it was suggesting the wiring in the tonearm i guess? So just to make sure i have just swapped the cartridge for a MP-11 cart and the same thing but not so low a volume in the weaker channel, i have noticed two little rubber tags on the phono leads that come from the arm that seem to have values written on them, one says -150 and the other 150 don't know if this is anything to do with the difference in volume between the two channels?

[Bigman80]

Could be length ?? Ie 150cm ?

[Terry]

I think you could be right on that one Oliver.

[rabbit]

If its got the "old" style SME connector (wide, black plug with locking screws at both ends) these can get quite corroded. Try breaking and making the connection a few times to clean the pins. Also the original SME cables get very stiff and put a lot of load on the plug and solder joints. IME the problems are usually in the cabling outside the arm (and the plug/socket) rather than the internal wiring of the arm. Good luck.

[Barry]

If its got the "old" style SME connector (wide, black plug with locking screws at both ends) these can get quite corroded. Try breaking and making the connection a few times to clean the pins. Also the original SME cables get very stiff and put a lot of load on the plug and solder joints. IME the problems are usually in the cabling outside the arm (and the plug/socket) rather than the internal wiring of the arm. Good luck.

The 4-way Belling & Lee 'Unitor' connector uses silver plated pins. These can tarnish, as too can the phosphor bronze sockets. Give them a squirt of contact cleaner. Depending on how the cable is dressed, the plug may not be a firm and complete fit with the socket.

But first we have to know if it is headshell/arm connection that is the problem or whether it is the cartridge itself.

But first