Balanced tonearm cable

[Kurosawsa]

I have turntable with a tonearm that has a 5pin din output. I own an Eleac Alchemy PPA2 phono preamp that has a balanced input.
Unfortunately, there is no sound coming through the Right channel. I asked for support at Eleac. They told me to bridge pin 1 (ground wire) and pin 3 (negative) of both the XLR3 connectors. I have no issues when I connect the turntable unbalanced to the phono preamp.

I can see that ground wire is soldered to pin 1 of both xlr connectors.

 

[Atmasphere]

I have turntable with a tonearm that has a 5pin din output. I own an Eleac Alchemy PPA2 phono preamp that has a balanced input.
Unfortunately, there is no sound coming through the Right channel. I asked for support at Eleac. They told me to bridge pin 1 (ground wire) and pin 3 (negative) of both the XLR3 connectors. I have no issues when I connect the turntable unbalanced to the phono preamp.

Do you know that the balanced phono preamp works? To test that, swap the cables at its inputs, left for right. If the dead (right) channel stays put then the preamp is at fault. If the problem moves then the cartridge, arm or cable is at fault. Since it works in both channels using a single-ended cable and preamp, this suggests either the cable or the preamp.

 

[Kurosawsa]

Do you know that the balanced phono preamp works? To test that, swap the cables at its inputs, left for right. If the dead (right) channel stays put then the preamp is at fault. If the problem moves then the cartridge, arm or cable is at fault. Since it works in both channels using a single-ended cable and preamp, this suggests either the cable or the preamp.

Thanks. I opened the din 5p and it seems some wires are disconnected! I will have to solder them. It won't be easy because the din 5p connectors are tiny. But at least I have found the cause.

 

[Kurosawsa]

Thanks. I opened the din 5p and it seems some wires are disconnected! I will have to solder them. It won't be easy because the din 5p connectors are tiny. But at least I have found the cause.

I have bought a new Pro-ject balanced cable. It seems to be fixed (both channels are working). But there's still a buzzing sound even when the tonearm and needle aren't not on the record. Might this be a ground loop problem?

 

[Atmasphere]

I have bought a new Pro-ject balanced cable. It seems to be fixed (both channels are working). But there's still a buzzing sound even when the tonearm and needle aren't not on the record. Might this be a ground loop problem?

No. More likely the arm cable isn't wired correctly. If we are talking about a balanced connection, pin 3 of the DIN connection is ground and should tie to the shields of both channels, which in turn tie to pin 1 of each XLR.

 

[Kurosawsa]

No. More likely the arm cable isn't wired correctly. If we are talking about a balanced connection, pin 3 of the DIN connection is ground and should tie to the shields of both channels, which in turn tie to pin 1 of each XLR.

I got a Pro-ject X8 Evo SuperPack Quintet Blue turntable. It's still in factory mode (I haven't changed anything yet).
I had a closer look on the din 5p connector and it seems the wiring is ok. The ground wires are connected to the middle pin.

Do I have to detach the tonearm to see how the wiring is done inside the tonearm?

 

[Atmasphere]

I got a Pro-ject X8 Evo SuperPack Quintet Blue turntable. It's still in factory mode (I haven't changed anything yet).
I had a closer look on the din 5p connector and it seems the wiring is ok. The ground wires are connected to the middle pin.

Do I have to detach the tonearm to see how the wiring is done inside the tonearm?

Don't worry about that yet. We don't have evidence there's a problem with it.

What is connected to pin 1 of the XLRs?

 

[Kurosawsa]

Don't worry about that yet. We don't have evidence there's a problem with it.

What is connected to pin 1 of the XLRs?

Pin 1 is the ground cable on both xlr3pins

 

[Atmasphere]

Pin 1 is the ground cable on both xlr3pins

Do you mean a separate ground wire instead of the shield of the interconnect? If yes, we found the problem!

 

[Kurosawsa]

I have opened the damaged cable and I believe it is the copper that they have soldered on the pin 1 of both xlr3pins. I will try to make a picture later

 

[Kurosawsa]

I have opened the damaged cable and I believe it is the copper that they have soldered on the pin 1 of both xlr3pins. I will try to make a picture later

I have had the same problem with a Jelco JAC-506 balanced cable. I did not check the internal wiring of that cable unfortunately. It's been a year ago