Got new AT440MLa this weekend problems

gus6464 · « **on:** 18 Feb 2008, 07:42 am »

This was my first attempt ever at installing a cartridge and I must say it went very well. I have a Rega Planar 2 and used the Stevenson ARC protractor from vinyl engine and the Shure SFG-2. I must say that the cart is a huge step up from the Shure V-series cart that the TT came with in terms of tracking. On some LPs like ABBA the sound is a bit thin when compared to the Shure but I am guessing it's because cart has yet to break-in. On other LPs the highs are a lot more detailed and I have been hearing new things on most songs. I was also worried about the hum that some people were reporting but I have to say mine is completely hum free. Next upgrade will be Michell Technoweight but it will be a bit since I have major upgrade coming in on Tuesday and Wednesday in the form of an Arcam A80 integrated and Dali Ikon 2 speakers. I got an awesome deal on both at audiogon that was just too hard to pass up.

gus6464 · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 08:44 am »

All of a sudden now I get no sound from the left speaker. I checked to see if the cartridge wire was loose but it's in place. What could be causing this?

JimJ · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 10:06 am »

Re-check everything...the connections at the cart, the plugs going into the phono input, the speaker wires just to be sure

Wayner · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 12:36 pm »

Flip the left and right cables around at the preamp and see if the problem switches to the right channel. If it didn't the probllem is with the pre-amp or something else down stream. Make sure the shield part of the RCA jacks are making contact.

Wayner

gus6464 · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Feb 2008, 10:31 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 18 Feb 2008, 12:36 pm

Flip the left and right cables around at the preamp and see if the problem switches to the right channel. If it didn't the probllem is with the pre-amp or something else down stream. Make sure the shield part of the RCA jacks are making contact.

Wayner

Ok I will try that when I get home. So what if when I switch the cables the sound switches to left speaker? I just don't understand how it was working perfectly fine one second and the next one channel goes out.

gus6464 · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 01:19 am »

Ok so I just got home and reversed the RCAs from the TT to the phono preamp and now I get sound from the left instead of the right. So it's definitely something wrong in the tonearm or the cartridge. What can I do?

Edit: I think I figured out what's wrong. I checked the cartridge connectors and the solder has come off the white and green connectors. The little slider bracket now hangs on the cable without making contact. Is there anything I can do besides needing an entirely new rewire? I tried to tape the solder and connector together with electrical tape but it didn't work.

twitch54 · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 02:19 am »

electrical tape !!! even uncle 'Rube' wouldn't try that one, LOL ! get out your soldering gun kiddo ! if your lucky you can just "re-sweat" it back together.

gus6464 · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 03:31 am »

Quote from: twitch54 on 19 Feb 2008, 02:19 am

electrical tape !!! even uncle 'Rube' wouldn't try that one, LOL ! get out your soldering gun kiddo ! if your lucky you can just "re-sweat" it back together.

Haha I went out to Lowe's real quick and got a soldering gun with some solder. Was lucky enough that I just needed a tiny bit of solder and presto! It works perfectly now although this experience now makes me want to rewire my RB250 myself. It never ends!!!

Wayner · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Feb 2008, 01:38 pm »

A soldering iron is good to own when you have a table. Cartridge wires are a very small gauge and prone to breakage.

Now get listening!

Wayner