NationStates Jolt Archive

Alright, so my dad buys me a turntable last week, right? It got here yesterday, and whaddya know --- the right stereo channel is almost twice as loud as it should be, and the left channel is barely audible.

I've tried everything I can think of, from switching cables to turning both of my preamps on. Nothing fixes the problem. And, from reading many troubleshooting guides and instruction booklets for this particular turntable, it looks like it requires an amplifier, even if you're connecting the turntable to a PC for ripping (note that most DECENT turntables only need a preamp to do that).

So, I started looking for a stereo amplifier about an hour ago, and I found one for a total of about $40. It's high-quality stuff, too. I tell my dad about it, and what's the answer I get?

"It's fine. The sound comes out of both channels. You don't need an amplifier."

Yeah, it does. But, like I said, it's an extremely weak signal in one channel and an overpowered one in the other. There was a Sony turntable at a local pawn shop for a grand total of $30, with many input/output jacks in the back, a new belt, arm, and stylus.

But no. Since my dad's never wrong about anything, and he knows exactly what works and what doesn't, we couldn't buy the very sturdy Sony turntable. He had to go and buy this one without telling me about it beforehand. And now, I can't even fix my problem, because he says everything is fine. Fucking control freak.

Well, I guess that's it. If any of you Generalites have had similar turntable problems and know how to fix them... Well, I need all the help I can get, because obviously, $45 for an excellent hi-fi amp with left/right channel balance switches isn't what the Grand Lord and Master wants.

I know my winamp and my amplifers both have balance control. Have you checked that? It might be switched all the way over to the right, thus giving major boost there, but none to the left.

I can't help you, but I can do...
*does mayuchi into your eyes, followed by a soft cast, where upon I grasp your wrist and twist it, followed by a kick to the shoulder blade and a punch to the upper chest, then quickly skitters away into the darkness*
There, feel better now?

I know my winamp and my amplifers both have balance control. Have you checked that? It might be switched all the way over to the right, thus giving major boost there, but none to the left.

That's the thing --- I don't have an amplifier.

The problem is the turntable itself, obviously. When I connect it to my PC, i load a sound recording program (wavepad) to check the wave balance. 10% left, 120% right.

It'd be fine if it was a PC problem, but it isn't. It plays 10/120 even when I connect it directly to my speakers.

The only way I can balance the audio is to record the unbalanced audio at a lower volume and normalise it to 100/100. But, that takes a long time, especially for LP's.

If I had an amplifier, I wouldn't be having this problem, because they have left/right balance switches. Ugh.

That's the thing --- I don't have an amplifier.

The problem is the turntable itself, obviously. When I connect it to my PC, i load a sound recording program (wavepad) to check the wave balance. 10% left, 120% right.

It'd be fine if it was a PC problem, but it isn't. It plays 10/120 even when I connect it directly to my speakers.

The only way I can balance the audio is to record the unbalanced audio at a lower volume and normalise it to 100/100. But, that takes a long time, especially for LP's.

If I had an amplifier, I wouldn't be having this problem, because they have left/right balance switches. Ugh.my first thought would be loose a loose wire or connection in the turntable.

check the company site. it should be under some sort of warranty.

I do have a suggestion, but you wouldn't like it, Potarius, so I won't bother with it.

Well, my dad's going to take the turntable to my neighbor's house later today. She has a really nice home theater system with a hi-fi phono amp.

We'll see if it's a loose wire. I'm betting something's wrong with it, because the Audio Technica site says you can plug the turntable directly to a PC with full stereo sound.

Well, my dad's going to take the turntable to my neighbor's house later today. She has a really nice home theater system with a hi-fi phono amp.

We'll see if it's a loose wire. I'm betting something's wrong with it, because the Audio Technica site says you can plug the turntable directly to a PC with full stereo sound.
if speakers can be plugged directly into it... another test is to hook up one speaker to the right channel... then move it to the left. and unless he's totally deaf, he should hear the difference.

*finishes tying steel-toed boots* So is the invitation for kicking still open?

Potarius, are you Potaria?

If so, how is the job search going?

Hope all's well with you!

if speakers can be plugged directly into it... another test is to hook up one speaker to the right channel... then move it to the left. and unless he's totally deaf, he should hear the difference.

I should've said these earlier, but here goes.

When we switch L/R connectors, it just inverts it. Rather than being 10/120, it's 120/10. But, when we just connect one cable or the other, it's about 0/80 or 80/0.

Potarius, are you Potaria?

If so, how is the job search going?

Hope all's well with you!

I'll be heading to college before looking for a job. Any job I can get at the moment will pay far too little, and even with that, the food stamp benefits we get will be slashed. So no job at the moment.

Alright, so my dad buys me a turntable last week, right? It got here yesterday, and whaddya know --- the right stereo channel is almost twice as loud as it should be, and the left channel is barely audible.....

Just sue the bastard. You have Rights.

Just sue the bastard. You have Rights.

Sue my dad? Dude, he doesn't have a penny to his name. :p

Sue my dad? Dude, he doesn't have a penny to his name. :p
err... considering that he bought the turntable and you can't afford the amp (nothing wrong with that mind you...)

he might still have more than you. :D

but don't sue... bad idea to sue family... :(

err... considering that he bought the turntable and you can't afford the amp (nothing wrong with that mind you...)

he might still have more than you. :D

but don't sue... bad idea to sue family... :(

Sons have certain inalieanable Rights. Sue!

Hahaha. :p

Well, I found out what it is. It is indeed a broken wire. The reason?

It's a refurbished model. The engineer(s) who worked on it obviously messed up one of the wires. I was messing around with the RCA connectors, and when I jiggled them, the left channel's volume swelled.

My dad agrees that this is the problem, but we're still going to test it on my neighbor's system to be sure once and for all. Lucky for us, though, the audio shop we bought it from has a return & exchange policy for things just like this.

The only way I can balance the audio is to record the unbalanced audio at a lower volume and normalise it to 100/100. But, that takes a long time, especially for LP's.
that's exactly what i was gonna suggest... so i'm sorry, i can't help you buddy :-S

i can totally relate to your pissed-off-ness btw


edit:

Hahaha. :p

Well, I found out what it is. It is indeed a broken wire. The reason?

It's a refurbished model. The engineer(s) who worked on it obviously messed up one of the wires. I was messing around with the RCA connectors, and when I jiggled them, the left channel's volume swelled.

My dad agrees that this is the problem, but we're still going to test it on my neighbor's system to be sure once and for all. Lucky for us, though, the audio shop we bought it from has a return & exchange policy for things just like this.
good! :fluffle:

What a whiny baby. I thought Potaria might have had a real problem.

What a whiny baby. I thought Potaria might have had a real problem.

It's especially annoying when everything I get like this is messed up in some sort of way. This is far from the first time that something like this has happened.

If it didn't happen so often (and had I not searched for an hour for troubleshooting manuals), I wouldn't've made this thread.

*kicks you* feel better?

Sons have certain inalieanable Rights. Sue!

I agree. God given or Human given?

I agree. God given or Human given?
Both. And then some!:mad: