One Step Forward...2 Steps back. (Kenwood KD-550 TT issues)

ZLTFUL
ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
edited February 2013 in 2 Channel Audio
So I was playing...er well trying to play with my Kenwood KD-550 turntable this weekend and discovered a very disturbing issue.

No right channel output.

I did typical troubleshooting...
Swapped phono plugs around...issue followed so my phono pre is not the issue.
Pulled cartridge (Audio Technica but forgot to write down model) and made sure all the little wires were connected and correct. They are.

I haven't yet pulled the wiring to check the condition but that will be my next step.
I am also upgrading the cartridge to Grado Green since I can get a decent price locally.

Any ideas aside from that? Pretty much sold myself on an issue in the right channel wiring.
"Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    So I was playing...er well trying to play with my Kenwood KD-550 turntable this weekend and discovered a very disturbing issue.

    No right channel output.

    I did typical troubleshooting...
    Swapped phono plugs around...issue followed so my phono pre is not the issue.
    Pulled cartridge (Audio Technica but forgot to write down model) and made sure all the little wires were connected and correct. They are.

    I haven't yet pulled the wiring to check the condition but that will be my next step.
    I am also upgrading the cartridge to Grado Green since I can get a decent price locally.

    Any ideas aside from that? Pretty much sold myself on an issue in the right channel wiring.

    Cold solder on the other end of the rca's?
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited February 2013
    Yeah...kind of what I am thinking. I haven't taken it apart yet to verify wiring at all.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    Yeah...kind of what I am thinking. I haven't taken it apart yet to verify wiring at all.

    I'd put on some tunes and wiggle the RCA's on the back of the table and see if things are working intermittently, then I'd take a quick peek under the hood.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited February 2013
    Do you have a DMM (digital multi-meter) or a VOM (volt-ohm meter)? It might make troubleshooting the wiring easier.
    My experience with intermittents on older turntables is poor connections at the RCA plugs; a little judicious 'wiggling' will often nail down the locus of the intermittent.


    (oh, the previous post says that! well, I second the recommendation, then, I guess!)
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited February 2013
    I do and there is no signal at all on the right side RCA. The left is in the correct mv range.

    Wiggling the wire cluster at the TT resulted in nothing at all. The issue lies somewhere between the connection to the cartridge and where the wires exit the block of corian.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited February 2013
    have you swapped cartridge/headshell from a known/working turntable?
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited February 2013
    Yeah, unfortunately you are headed for diagnosis/disassembly. I did some repairs on a Kenwood table for a friend. These repair details get all mixed up in my head, but with some auto/semi auto tables you see contact points that are opened when the tonearm lifts and returns to rest. The open circuit prevented 'pops' through the speakers when the table shut off.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited February 2013
    The KD-550 is a full manual TT. Even has a funky little anti-skate arm/weight/spring assembly that you manually engage/disengage.

    I haven't swapped the cartridge yet but that is a next step before I start pulling it apart.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • tullman
    tullman Posts: 17
    edited February 2013
    Same thing happened to my daughter's TT. It turned out to be the cartridge.
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited February 2013
    Cartridge fine, wiring fine...except the little leads running from the cartridge to the headshell. I pulled those all off and they looked pretty oxidized.
    I replaced those and it worked fine but I did end up putting a new cartridge in as well. Grado Green. Sounds a bit better than the Audio Technica cart that was in it.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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