My center image pulled to the left vinyl only..Why??

[j3brow]

I need some advice on this one. I am NOT a turntable setup guy. I purchased my VPI Scoutmaster/Clearaudio Maestro from Acoustic Sounds two and a half years ago. Over the past month, my center image (vocals, etc) has pulled to the left whereas it was dead center before. it is not drastic but most definately pulled in that direction. It seems to be occurring with *most* but not all albums. CD playback is always dead on.

First thing I did was swap out the tubes in my phonostage. That wasnt the problem. I checked the table and everything is still perfectly level. So what gives?? Has the cartridge become misaligned?? Can that happen over time? The cart hasnt been fiddled with since Chad Stelly at AS set it up over 2+ yrs ago.

Am I experiencing skating??? the table was set up as recommended by VPI without anti-skate installed (I have the signature 9 and i have the capability of anti-skate, just not utilizing the option).

Any and all help is appreciated.

[jdandy]

Jason.......Have you tried using a test album with tones individually recorded at specific levels for each channel? Have you tried removing and resetting the cartridge wires, and the tome arm wires to the preamp to insure a clean, tight connection? Have you reversed the tonearm interconnects at the preamp to see if the problem follows the channel?

I'm just trying to think of some simple process of elimination.

[gregswaim]

Your pickup needs to be realigned. From what you just described it most likely points to a pickup that has gone out of alignment,for whatever reason. If you are not familiar with how to properly mount a pickup you should take your TT to dealer trained with such procedures.

[gregswaim]

A damaged stylus tip/cantilever could also cause the same issue. Make sure that your pickup has not been damaged in some way.

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jason.......Have you tried using a test album with tones individually recorded at specific levels for each channel? Have you tried removing and resetting the cartridge wires, and the tome arm wires to the preamp to insure a clean, tight connection? Have you reversed the tonearm interconnects at the preamp to see if the problem follows the channel?

I'm just trying to think of some simple process of elimination.

Dan, thank you for the suggestions. I have not tried any of the above. I dont have a test album but I know someone who does. Will try to borrow it. Im not sure if I have the steady hands to mess with the cartridge wires. I will certainly try removing and replugging the tonearm cables to my C2300. I just checked the azimuth by eye for the 1st time, while in the groove, the cartridge appears parallel to the record surface with the cantilever looking OK. Looking that closely at the cartridge, there is a fair amount of record dust/debris built up on the front of the cartridge body. Not sure if dust/debris can screw up channel balance. My compressed air can ran out several months back, need to go grad another one....

[gregswaim]

Originally Posted by j3brow

Dan, thank you for the suggestions. I have not tried any of the above. I dont have a test album but I know someone who does. Will try to borrow it. Im not sure if I have the steady hands to mess with the cartridge wires. I will certainly try removing and replugging the tonearm cables to my C2300. I just checked the azimuth by eye for the 1st time, while in the groove, the cartridge appears parallel to the record surface with the cantilever looking OK. Looking that closely at the cartridge, there is a fair amount of record dust/debris built up on the front of the cartridge body. Not sure if dust/debris can screw up channel balance. My compressed air can ran out several months back, need to go grad another one....

That dust buildup will cause issues with the sound. Clean your pickup and then try to play a record again and see how it goes. It's very important to keep your pickup clean at all times. A little dust buildup can make your records sound distorted among other things.

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by gregswaim

Your pickup needs to be realigned. From what you just described it most likely points to a pickup that has gone out of alignment,for whatever reason. If you are not familiar with how to properly mount a pickup you should take your TT to dealer trained with such procedures.

Thank you Greg for the input. Thats what Im afraid it is. Afraid because I have no idea how to fool with these things. small expensive carts make me nervous! I may have a couple of regional options, but not too many turntable guys around me I know and trust to realign mine. Seems like shipping the table/arm/cart back to Acoustic Sounds could be a recipe for damaging the stylus in shipping (they packed it nicely, not confident I could do the same.....maybe a call to acoustic sounds in the AM is in order

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by gregswaim

That dust buildup will cause issues with the sound. Clean your pickup and then try to play a record again and see how it goes. It's very important to keep your pickup clean at all times. A little dust buildup can make your records sound distorted among other things.

I regularly clean the tip with Disc Doctor Stylus cleaner. The tip is clean, the cart front body (and subsequently the opening to the innards of the cart) is not. Reallly wishing i would have bought a replacement compressed air much sooner to keep the dust off. My TT is exposed to the elements 24/7, i.e. no dust cover. There is no gross damage or misalignment of the stylus I can visually detect.

[jdandy]

Jason.......The comment about copressed air concerns me. Do you spray this compressed air on the sytlus to clean it? When was the last time the stulus tip was cleaned completely, all the way to the point of clearly seeing the tip with no debris stick to it?

[gregswaim]

Originally Posted by j3brow

I regularly clean the tip with Disc Doctor Stylus cleaner. The tip is clean, the cart front body (and subsequently the opening to the innards of the cart) is not. Reallly wishing i would have bought a replacement compressed air much sooner to keep the dust off. My TT is exposed to the elements 24/7, i.e. no dust cover.

I don't use a dust cover with my TT either-my records sound better that way.

Try cleaning the inner body of your pickup first and see if that helps. That may be all that is needed. Usually, pickups stay aligned unless "messed with".
If you have a extreme dust issue, a dust cover may be a good thing for you, otherwise a regular dusting of your stuff will need to happen.