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Graham Phantom II + Dynavector XV1's need help

Hi all, i have a Dynavector mounted on a Graham Phantom II. Turntable is Sota Cosmos IV.
I have set the overhang and zenith using a custom made MintLP.
VTF is set at 2.1g
VTA is set slightly above parallel at the arm's base.
Anti-skate weigh is set a bit less than midway on the shaft.
Azimuth is set with the mirror technique and it appears to be correct.
Test Record used is Cardas Frequency & Burn in record.

The Problem:

The stereo image is "tilted" to the right playing somewhat louder in the right channel. When playing a CD or FM Tuner, the image is perfectly centered.
I have tweaked azimuth, tilting a bit more to the left and to the right but to no avail.

On side 2 of that record when George speaks "greeting from the left channel then right channel then both channels", it is obvious that he comes out louder in the right channel.

Also, on side 1 there are 1KHz test tones in left, right and both channels.
When i play the test tone in the left channel and turn the balance control all the way to the right, i can hear the tone in the right channel and vice versa. Can this be described as a bad case of cross talk? Should/can the opposite channel be completely silent? I have done this test in stereo and mono (mono switch on the phono pre-amp).
Aside from a digital volt/ohm meter, i do not have electronic devices (re: O-scope, Wally tools) to adjust azimuth.

Any feedback appreciated.

smoffatt
mikelavigne
2,199 posts
 
reversing the cartridge leads will either confirm or eliminate whether it's a cartridge/arm issue or not.

from there you either examine the rest of the signal path or consider the various cartridge and arm issues that have been mentioned.

messing around with arm set-up issues prior to confirming that the channel imbalance is actually in the cartridge is likely to be very frustrating in the long run.

first things first. isolate the problem. don't assume. reversing the cartridge leads and then putting them back should not affect set-up; it quick and simple.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,101 posts
 
Dear Smoffatt: Additional of what other persons already posted make sure the cartridge is right wired to the tonearm ( blue with blue, white with white and the like. ).

If you have another cartridge or can borrow one then try it and see what happen.
IF the trouble persist hen the phono stage is the culprit and if no trouble then the XV-1 is out of specs. I assume that your tonearm is wired in correct way ( IC. ).

You mentioned a crosstalk severe problem, could be but is very rare on cartridges of this top level as could be too different channel output level.

I think that after check the wiring testing the system with a different cartridge can help to aisle the problem.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
lewm
13,171 posts
 
This won't cure your main problem of channel imbalance, but I think you also said you have more crosstalk from on one side vs the other. It could be that when you played with azimuth in order to try to cure your channel imbalance, you threw it out of whack, resulting in the finding that you have more crosstalk on one side than the other. Azimuth adjustment should be able to fix that, once the main problem is identified and cured. It's also possible that the apparent crosstalk problem is entirely secondary to the imbalance issue; the lack of gain in the affected channel also makes crosstalk less audible in that channel. The best way to check crosstalk is to play a mono signal into the L channel only (for example) and listen to the R channel output, only. Then reverse the process.
smoffatt OP
205 posts
 
Thank You all. I will reverse the cartridge leads as suggested and see what happens. Stay tuned!!!!!

However, I have looked at the cantilever through a 12X magnifier. Although the cantilever is straight as an arrow, the styli is not pointing straight down. It appears to be tilted slightly to the right towards the outer groove.
The cantilever may have rotated on its axis ever so slightly counter clockwise, hence the styli pointing to the right. This is a cartridge i bought used here on Agon a year or so ago but never got to mounting it until i replaced my SME V with the Phantom.

ARC Ref2 MKI
ARC Ref Phono
Both with GNSC Reference Mods.
All tubes are NOS Amperex 7308 PQ white label.
smoffatt OP
205 posts
 
UPDATE: I have switched the cartridge leads and now the "louder" channel is the left one. Reconnected the wires correctly and the louder channel is the right one again.
This would indicate a defective cartridge where the output level is much different in one channel vs the other. Visual inspection confirms that the styli (not the cantilever) is crooked to the right towards the outer groove.

I need a new cartridge.
Thank You all for responding.
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