My tonearm must be wired out of phase

"Thought about that testpilot, but wouldn't a loose pin mean signal or no signal"  

I might result in a lower signal level. I have had that happen with a loose connection on speaker cables.

Best Regards,

Jim Perry

Thanks chakster there is one sitting in my album rack!   I even used it for channel balance test tones never thought to test polarity.  At any rate it will be an interesting test. 

Perhaps the wires are not consistent directionality-wise. Also, Polarity errors can exist anywhere in the system. Check all connections. XLO Test CD has a Polarity Test track (out of phase track).

The tonearm is wired in correct polarity using the hifi test record.  The puzzling piece for me is when the connections at either the pins or the phono pre are reversed, the balance is spot on between the channels according to my mono block meters and my ears.

It appears to be my phono pre, switching tubes does not change the imbalance, the right is still louder than the left.  Also, I retubed it with fresh tubes.  I just had it in with a tech and he adjusted the power supply to the designers specs but otherwise measured in perfect working order.  I thought it was solved.

Conclusion, chase the dragon and go a witch-hunt or listen with the leads reversed which reverses the channels but sounds terrific.  Or listen to my backup phono pre which sonically is inferior.

@pops ,

Your "conclusion" makes no sense.

Glad all turned out well though.