Advice needed !

[Bigman80]

Hi all,

I have an issue. My right channel on my phono is dropping out. At first I thought it was the amplifier. When I moved the RCA slightly, it would come back in momentarily and drop back out.

But, if I gently tap the top of the TT it also comes back in instantly and drops back out as quickly.

I've installed a different tonearm and it's played perfectly. No channels dropping at all.

I thought it may be because I'm using the amps inbuilt MC stage so I bought an independent SUT and used the MM input on the amp but no change.

I've re-soldered the cartridge tag on the right channel, checked the connections on the RCAs. Changed the rca plugs on the sut but nothing is working.

Ive contacted J7 and asked if he'd check the arm over and of course he is happy to do so but before I spend more money,

Is there anything I've missed, not checked, could try?????

Oliver.



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[Firebottle]

Bringing it around to me?

Have you looked at the intermediary connection on the flying leads, that's where I would look. There may be a break in one of the wires, even though it looks like they are all soldered up properly.

[mikeyb]

Your TT is scrap I'll give you £50 for it just to soften the blow :)

It's a pain with anything like this, my old Claymore amp is the same, no doubt take 2 minutes to fix, it's just that I can't as I can't do it myself lol

Hope you get fixed, thank god I don't live near Firebottle or I'd be round there every week for repairs and my house would be full of Firebottle goodies lol

[Bigman80]

Bringing it around to me?

Have you looked at the intermediary connection on the flying leads, that's where I would look. There may be a break in one of the wires, even though it looks like they are all soldered up properly.
Hi Alan,

I feel like a nuisance!! I either call or turn up every time I buy something!!!

I'll send you a message. You are a good un.

Oliver.

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[Bigman80]

Your TT is scrap I'll give you £50 for it just to soften the blow :)

It's a pain with anything like this, my old Claymore amp is the same, no doubt take 2 minutes to fix, it's just that I can't as I can't do it myself lol

Hope you get fixed, thank god I don't live near Firebottle or I'd be round there every week for repairs and my house would be full of Firebottle goodies lol
Haha Mikey, I know it's worth at least £55. 😂

It has only happened since I put the Sony amp in but it does it with both sets of cable I have and both cartridges. Strange if it is the amp that it comes back on when I tap the TT which is on a separate wall shelf 🤔

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[mikeyb]

I get crackling from left channel on the old Claymore and if I tap the box it fixes it lol

So if not your TT cabling it could be dry joint or something simple like that.

[RothwellAudio]

...my old Claymore amp is the same, no doubt take 2 minutes to fix...

Yes, but possibly two hours to locate the dry/broken joint, dismantle the equipment, remove the PCB to access the underside, re-solder (the two minute job), reassemble and test. Nothing will irritate the man (or woman) who's fixing your gear more than you trivialising their endeavours.

[Bigman80]

Yes, but possibly two hours to locate the dry/broken joint, dismantle the equipment, remove the PCB to access the underside, re-solder (the two minute job), reassemble and test. Nothing will irritate the man (or woman) who's fixing your gear more than you trivialising their endeavours.
Absolutely, I've spent many a morning at Alan's watching him searching for a good ground connection etc. I'm grateful he's so willing to spend time fixing my gear or everything would have been on eBay already.

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[mikeyb]

Yes, but possibly two hours to locate the dry/broken joint, dismantle the equipment, remove the PCB to access the underside, re-solder (the two minute job), reassemble and test. Nothing will irritate the man (or woman) who's fixing your gear more than you trivialising their endeavours.
I didn't mean it like that

:-(

[mikeyb]

Is it me or is everyone grumpy just now, last couple of posts I've put up in a light hearted manner have been jumped on?

It just be Xmas lol

One on another forum has irked someone because I didn't quote the post I was talking about even though I could only have been talking about the two posts above me which I think were #1 and #2 lol

[mikeyb]

Let's hope that once Alan has given it a good thorough check, made you tea and biscuits and had a good blether that it only takes him 2 minutes to rectify the issue 😁

And don't whatever you do pay him for his time that will only encourage him to take longer the next time 😛 😉

[Bigman80]

I get crackling from left channel on the old Claymore and if I tap the box it fixes it lol

So if not your TT cabling it could be dry joint or something simple like that.
Yes a simple fix which would take me forever to find lol.

Everyone is a bit grumpy ! Me too lol. Must be the weather and dodgy connections.

Alan is very very good so I'm going to take everything I own and see if he can find out what's going on. I'll have to take him a nice Christmas gift too

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[struth]

Bah, HUMBUG!! End of extract ;)

[RothwellAudio]

I didn't mean it like that
:-(


Is it me or is everyone grumpy just now?


Sorry, I know you probably didn't mean it like that - I didn't mean to sound like I was having a go at you either.
Yes, perhaps I am a bit grumpy today. I'll kick myself up the backside and pull myself together ;)

[Bigman80]

Sorry, I know you probably didn't mean it like that - I didn't mean to sound like I was having a go at you either.
Yes, perhaps I am a bit grumpy today. I'll kick myself up the backside and pull myself together ;)
Lol, it's Christmas.

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[mikeyb]

Sorry, I know you probably didn't mean it like that - I didn't mean to sound like I was having a go at you either.
Yes, perhaps I am a bit grumpy today. I'll kick myself up the backside and pull myself together ;)
Don't say that you'll have to kick me too lol

[walpurgis]

I'm not grumpy........................today! :D

[hermit]

What's wrong with grumpy? Grumpy is the natural order of things. The only people who are not grumpy are young people. They can be annoyingly positive and are often be found smiling to themselves for no apparent reason. The best thing to do is to simply ignore them. Life will wipe the smile off their faces in due course. Now cheer up you grumpy auld bastards - just be happy that you're no longer young and wearing that stupid smile on your face ;)

[loveoscar]

I think the British weather has a lot to answer for. It's hardly got light here for the last 3 days.

[Bigman80]

Right,. I've installed an old hi-fi and connected the TT. Both channels fully operational. And have been for an hour now. Looks like it is the amp.

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[walpurgis]

Is the SUT working OK Oliver?

[Bigman80]

Is the SUT working OK Oliver?
There is still a buzz. It's quieter but still there. I have a video but it won't let me upload it to the forum.

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[mikeyb]

Right,. I've installed an old hi-fi and connected the TT. Both channels fully operational. And have been for an hour now. Looks like it is the amp.

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It's scrap I'll give you £50 for it just to soften the blow [emoji6]

[Bigman80]

It's scrap I'll give you £50 for it just to soften the blow [emoji6]
Lol,. Keep going up in price !!!

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[walpurgis]

Right,. I've installed an old hi-fi and connected the TT. Both channels fully operational. And have been for an hour now. Looks like it is the amp.

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Spend £60 or so on a used Denon PMA-350SE as a backup amp. Then you'll always have something decent handy. Damn good sounding unit anyway.

[RothwellAudio]

There is still a buzz. It's quieter but still there.

SUTs can be very quiet indeed - I'm sure the problem with yours can be sorted, you just have to be methodical about tackling it. I recommend using a pair of shorting plugs, or a pair of shorting plugs and shorting sockets if you're going to be really thorough. Here's the procedure:
1) Disconnect the SUT from the mm phonostage and put a pair of shorting plugs into the phonostage. The noise should be very low - just a bit of hiss when cranked up.
2) Put a pair of interconnects into the phonostage's input sockets and a pair of shorting sockets into the other end of the interconnects. The noise should still be very low. Try it with the two shorting sockets kept separate and also with the two shorting sockets touching each other. If it's silent with the sockets separate but hums when they touch, it's because touching them together has created an earth loop between the left/right earths. Some phonostages will hum when a loop is created this way, some won't. Whether or not it matters depends on whether or not the SUT creates the same loop. Some SUTs will, some won't.
3) Remove the shorting sockets and connect the SUT's outputs to the phonostage. Put the shorting plugs into the SUT's input sockets. There should be very little noise - no more than the phonostage alone. You should find that the orientation of the SUT and its proximity to other equipment's main transformers will affect the level of audible hum. Move the SUT around and listen to how the hum changes. The place on your equipment rack where you intend the SUT to reside may not be the best location for it. Find a place which gives the lowest hum. Sometimes just having the SUT on its side can reduce hum dramatically.
4) Connect the turntable to the SUT. If the SUT was quiet before but it now hums, the problem is with the turntable rather than the SUT. The turntable's ground wire should be connected to the phonostage's ground terminal. An extra ground wire between the phonostage's ground terminal and the SUT's ground terminal (if it has one) may or may not be required. Try it both ways to find out.

The above procedure should sort out any problems. Be aware that shielded cable between the SUT and phonostage is essential for low noise. Some esoteric cables aren't shielded and will cause problems.

[Bigman80]

SUTs can be very quiet indeed - I'm sure the problem with yours can be sorted, you just have to be methodical about tackling it. I recommend using a pair of shorting plugs, or a pair of shorting plugs and shorting sockets if you're going to be really thorough. Here's the procedure:
1) Disconnect the SUT from the mm phonostage and put a pair of shorting plugs into the phonostage. The noise should be very low - just a bit of hiss when cranked up.
2) Put a pair of interconnects into the phonostage's input sockets and a pair of shorting sockets into the other end of the interconnects. The noise should still be very low. Try it with the two shorting sockets kept separate and also with the two shorting sockets touching each other. If it's silent with the sockets separate but hums when they touch, it's because touching them together has created an earth loop between the left/right earths. Some phonostages will hum when a loop is created this way, some won't. Whether or not it matters depends on whether or not the SUT creates the same loop. Some SUTs will, some won't.
3) Remove the shorting sockets and connect the SUT's outputs to the phonostage. Put the shorting plugs into the SUT's input sockets. There should be very little noise - no more than the phonostage alone. You should find that the orientation of the SUT and its proximity to other equipment's main transformers will affect the level of audible hum. Move the SUT around and listen to how the hum changes. The place on your equipment rack where you intend the SUT to reside may not be the best location for it. Find a place which gives the lowest hum. Sometimes just having the SUT on its side can reduce hum dramatically.
4) Connect the turntable to the SUT. If the SUT was quiet before but it now hums, the problem is with the turntable rather than the SUT. The turntable's ground wire should be connected to the phonostage's ground terminal. An extra ground wire between the phonostage's ground terminal and the SUT's ground terminal (if it has one) may or may not be required. Try it both ways to find out.

The above procedure should sort out any problems. Be aware that shielded cable between the SUT and phonostage is essential for low noise. Some esoteric cables aren't shielded and will cause problems.
That's a thorough walkthrough. Thanks for taking the time !!

I've discovered that moving it away from any motor or transformer has cured it.

[emoji1]

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[RothwellAudio]

I've discovered that moving it away from any motor or transformer has cured it.

Ah, that would be step 3) :)
Yes - location, location, location. Very important for SUTs.

[Bigman80]

Ah, that would be step 3) :)
Yes - location, location, location. Very important for SUTs.
Absolutely. I do appreciate the time you took to write that out.

I've save it all lol

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