Stereo channel balance/image


I just recently setup a rega p3 turntable with a cambridge 540p phono preamp on my system. I noticed that there is somewhat of a channel imbalance. The left speaker is just slightly weaker than the right speaker. I tested every possible thing , moving the speakers, swapping the wires, changing interconnects and i've come to the conclusion that it is not the amp. There's something definetely wrong with the turntable or the phono preamp it only seems to happen when I play vinyl. Strange thing is when I played Bob Dylan's "love and theft" lp, the stereo image seemed just right same thing for the "bringing it all back home" 180g lp... I also noticed that the right woofer is working and "thrumping" more than the left when the music is louder. Does any know why this is hapening? Any suggestions?
decapg

Showing 2 responses by ghosthouse

I have to say channel imbalance is something that makes me crazy. You should be able to isolate imbalance to either TT or phono pre-amp - I think. Can you switch TT leads into phono pre-amp first? If it doesn't change anything try switching phono pre-amp to amp leads next. Have you checked the cartridge/stylus alignment? That would certainly explain the "vinyl only" symptoms...on the other hand if Dylan sounds balanced maybe your system is OK??? Can you listen to the recordings that seemed "imbalanced" on another system? I'll be curious what you find out if you do track down the cause.
Decapg - Please DON'T plug TT outputs into preamp OUT! What I was suggesting was a pretty obvious diagnostic that probably already occurred to you...
I assumed you had an outboard phono preamp. What I was suggesting is just reverse the left and right turntable output cables...plug left TT out into the right channel phono preamp INPUT. Plug right TT out into left preamp INPUT. If the lower volume imbalance DOESN'T move to the right channel this would implicate the preamp (or something else downstream). If it does move, it means the problem is with the TT. If you have an outboard preamp, you can try the same exercise. Reversing preamp L & R channel outputs going into amp inputs. Hope this clarifies