I am at the end of my rope, please help

Dear Audiorader, You wrote, "I find it an interesting theory that the higher voltage of the meter may be reading the small resistance in the cart as continuity." Either we are experiencing a problem of semantics or you really have not quite understood what Al, Atmasphere, and I have been saying. This has nothing to do with the voltage of a meter. It has only to do with the fact that some meters, especially but not only cheap ones, have a setting that only gives you a quick reading for continuity of a circuit vs that the circuit is shorted. This could be done via an LED that glows in one color vs another, etc. But the point is that in such cases, you don't actually see a resistance reading (always in "ohms"). Meters used to check "continuity" will not "see" a 5-ohm resistance at all. Such a meter will show continuity between green and red pins or between white and blue pins on your Lyra but probably not on your MM cartridge, which likely has a much, much higher internal resistance. But if you are using a real ohmmeter or a good digital meter on the resistance setting, such that you get real numbers in ohms, then you indeed may have a problem with your Titan.

Then there is an entirely separate issue that says you might not want to try measuring resistance across the pins on a delicate MC cartridge, because doing so can burn up the coils inside. Thus, you conceivably already damaged your original Titan by taking this measurement, and indeed in that case you truly may have "continuity" between pins. So, some guys who have your interests at heart are advising you not to make this measurement on your new Titan. (In truth, before I knew better, I made this measurement several times on a Koetsu Urushi cartridge I wanted to buy, and no harm was done. The Urushi has a 4- to 6-ohm coil resistance, similar to your Titan(s).)

In the old days it was not a good idea to do a resistance check of an MC cartridge because the meter would put a substantial DC current supplied by a battery through the coils which might leave a magnetic field.

Then in the new days the DVMs put an AC signal through the circuit under test instead. The concern is really not a lot different- an AC current through the coils could demagnetize the cartridge somehow. In practice I've not seen it happen, but if you are concerned I would get a 50-ohm resistor and put that in series with the cartridge when doing the test, then subtract the actual resistance of the resistor from the reading.

"I am going to throw the entire system in the ocean and take up another hobby."

NO!!!!

Give it to me first.

Then chuck yourself in the ocean.

Oh, do get it the right way round Audioraider... ahem ... ;)

I don't want to bother you guys anymore but here is the update. I purchased a used Titan with the idea that if it was not the cart I could resell for the same amount. I received the new cart and installed. Based on your advice, I have not used the meter on this cart and it has never been hooked up to my phono amp. The new cart reads exactly the same as the old one. Much stronger on the right side. I will get the rewired tonearm back on wednesday and install. I dont have a lot of hope that this is the solution because when I switched the clips the stronger signal moved to the left side. If the tonearm rewire does not solve it then there are only two options left, that I can see, the table or my setup. I would figure there was a problem with the fozgometer but I checked the calibration with my CD player and, beyond that, I can clearly hear it louder on the right side. I have to move the right speaker back about 8" to get a center image but that causes other sound problems.

I have the table and platter perfectly level but I thought that maybe when I ran the table the 60lb platter might be shifting on the magnetic bearing. I see no side to side movement. It seems rock solid. As far as set up, I am using the DR Feikert analog protractor with the Lofgren Geometry. I have confirmed the spindle to pivot for my arm with Frank Schroeder at 222MM and I am dead on with both that and overhang. I have moved the head-shell in both directions and Azimuth with very little change in the signal output. I can twist the antiskate all the way to the left and the channels will balance, right before the needle skips across the record toward the spindle.

I am going to move the table to another location. It is a big job considering the extreme weight but I will get some help and move it on Wednesday. I really wanted to figure this out but if moving the table does not work I will drive it down to the Analog Room in San Jose and see if Brian can figure it out.
Thank you so much for your assistance, You are all great!
Arlan

To be certain about correct relative phase, forget the ohmmeter and just try switching the red and green cartridge clips.