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Turntable grounding issue (advice needed)

beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
in Musicians and Gearheads
I'm aware of several audiophiles on here with great set ups and experience, you guys might be able to help.

All of a sudden my right channel will go super bright and louder then the left. Most times I can move the grounding cable and it goes back to normal, then suddenly turn loud and bright again, it's very random and intermittent.

I have a project debut carbon, into marantz PM6005.

I have tried a different grounding cable, and I have swapped the RCA cable around and nothing changes.

It can play fine for hours then suddenly the right channel goes super loud and bright, then back again. And as I said, fiddling with the grounding cable seems to remedy it for a time.

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    dudemandudeman Posts: 2,989
    Could be a few different things. Can you replace the RCA cables or are they permanently affixed to the turntable?

    Also, I would make sure that the tiny little wires that connect the cartridge to the tonearm wires are firmly crimped in place and free of corrosion. 

    Those things would be my guess as the easy places to look for the most likely culprit.
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
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    beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
    Ok I'll check that out, the RCA cables are the pro-ject connect it cables so easily replaced.
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    beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
    Cartridge connections look perfect so I'll get some really cheap RCA cable tomorrow, if it fixes the issue I'll purchase the pro-ject ones.
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    dudemandudeman Posts: 2,989
    Good luck! I hope it ends up being an easy fix for you. Those intermittent issues can be really frustrating. 
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
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    beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
    Ok, it's neither of those. I swapped my speaker cable around at the speakers and the problem switched left, tried different cable and still the same.

    So I think it's the phono stage in my marantz 😔 will try a pre amo through the aux and see what happens...
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    dudemandudeman Posts: 2,989
    Bummer! Do you have a CD player or any other source you can use to rule out issues with your Marantz that might not be in the phono pre?

    At this point, it's just a matter of eliminating variables.
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
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    beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
    That's a good point. I can borrow one, thanks!
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    beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
    Other devices through the other inputs worked just fine, so I have hooked up a pro-ject pre amp through the aux and all is good. And a bit of a bonus is it sounds great, tighter lows and smoother highs. Glad to have it sorted, very frustrating 
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    dudemandudeman Posts: 2,989
    Excellent! I'm glad you got it figured out. Better sound is definitely a bonus, too!
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
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    Vedd HeddVedd Hedd Posts: 4,526
    beano.79 said:
    Other devices through the other inputs worked just fine, so I have hooked up a pro-ject pre amp through the aux and all is good. And a bit of a bonus is it sounds great, tighter lows and smoother highs. Glad to have it sorted, very frustrating 
    I think I have a similar issue.  My marantz 2240B has some static in the right channel.  Thought it was just a connection, but I am going to try the pre-amp through the aux and see if that works.  
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    beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
    It was frustrating as hell, every time I'd touch the grounding cable it would sound normal, but soon return very bright and loud. I've had zero issues since going through a pre-amp.

    Hope you get yours sorted.
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    Vedd HeddVedd Hedd Posts: 4,526
    beano.79 said:
    It was frustrating as hell, every time I'd touch the grounding cable it would sound normal, but soon return very bright and loud. I've had zero issues since going through a pre-amp.

    Hope you get yours sorted.
    Thanks, I hope just needing to be cleaned a bit.  And proper speakers.  
    Turn this anger into
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    ParksyParksy Posts: 1,690
    I've had similar issues with my Marantz ... i cleaned all the pots and switches and it fixed the problem... but only temporarily. 

    Interestingly... I never thought to try a Pre-Amp to aux.  I love the look of the Marantz, so if I can get the sound going again via pre-amp then consider me a happy camper lol 
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    beano.79beano.79 Posts: 697
    This thread isn't a glowing review for marantz phono stage 😂
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    Vedd HeddVedd Hedd Posts: 4,526
    Indeed.  I also noticed that when I raise or lower the volume, I hear some static.  Is this just a symptom of needing to be cleaned?
    Turn this anger into
    Nuclear fission
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