I can see that ground wire is soldered to pin 1 of both xlr connectors.
Balanced tonearm cable
- Thread starter analog2analog
- Start date
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.
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.
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?
Do you mean a separate ground wire instead of the shield of the interconnect? If yes, we found the problem!
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
Again, the center pin of the DIN connector (pin 3) should be connected to pin 1 of the XLRs of both channels. This should also be the shield of the cable. If there is a separate ground wire, its an indication the people who made the cable do not understand how balanced line works.
I don't have a clue how to solve the balanced connection problem.
When I use the rca (unbalanced) cable then there is no noise (hum or buzz). When I switch to the balanced connection then the problemis there. Please note that I bought a brand new Pro-ject IT balanced cable.
When I use the rca (unbalanced) cable then there is no noise (hum or buzz). When I switch to the balanced connection then the problemis there. Please note that I bought a brand new Pro-ject IT balanced cable.
As you can see on the picture above, the ground wire is the shield of the cable.
So, the ground wire of the tonearm must lead to the shield of the (external) cable (in this case it's the Pro-Ject cable)? I still have not checked the tonearm wiring.
I don't have a clue how to solve the balanced connection problem.
When I use the rca (unbalanced) cable then there is no noise (hum or buzz).
When I switch back to the balanced connection then there is a problem with disturbing buzz/noise.
The disturbing noise als happens when I dont play a record. I mean when you switch on the turntable and the phono preamp. And the tonearm is still in it's resting position.
Please note that I bought a brand new Pro-ject IT balanced cable to see if there was a problem with one of the cables.
I still have to take a look at the cartridge wires.
But I believe everything will be ok because the unbalanced connection is working very fine
I have just checked the connection on the blue quintet cartridge and everything is connected correctly. I have also checked the wiring connection from the cartridge to the end of the rca connector with a multimeter. Including the ground wire from the tonearm to the endpoint ground wire of the stock Pro-ject rca cable. Everything seems to be connected correctly.
Unfortunately I have returned the new Pro-ject IT balanced cable to receive a refund.
I am waiting for the arrival of a new Cardas din 5p, so I can repair the damaged balanced cable and give the balanced connection a new tryout.
When I use the rca (unbalanced) cable then there is no noise (hum or buzz).
When I switch back to the balanced connection then there is a problem with disturbing buzz/noise.
The disturbing noise als happens when I dont play a record. I mean when you switch on the turntable and the phono preamp. And the tonearm is still in it's resting position.
Please note that I bought a brand new Pro-ject IT balanced cable to see if there was a problem with one of the cables.
I still have to take a look at the cartridge wires.
But I believe everything will be ok because the unbalanced connection is working very fine
I have just checked the connection on the blue quintet cartridge and everything is connected correctly. I have also checked the wiring connection from the cartridge to the end of the rca connector with a multimeter. Including the ground wire from the tonearm to the endpoint ground wire of the stock Pro-ject rca cable. Everything seems to be connected correctly.
Unfortunately I have returned the new Pro-ject IT balanced cable to receive a refund.
I am waiting for the arrival of a new Cardas din 5p, so I can repair the damaged balanced cable and give the balanced connection a new tryout.
Here's an interesting article
true-balanced-technical-booklet.pdf (henleyaudio.co.uk)
It says that (Pro-ject) True balanced can even work with unbalanced (rca) cables (and a din 5pin connector)!
true-balanced-technical-booklet.pdf (henleyaudio.co.uk)
It says that (Pro-ject) True balanced can even work with unbalanced (rca) cables (and a din 5pin connector)!
@Kurosawsa FWIW we've been running balanced connections between tonearms and our preamps since the 1980s. So we've had this figured out a long time.
Since your setup works single-ended, its a pretty good sign that something is wrong with the cable and not the arm or cartridge!
The funny thing is I've had cable, tonearm and cartridge manufacturers all push back at me at one time or another stating that a tonearm with cartridge isn't a balanced source. It amazes me they actually can make the stuff and not know that its a true balanced source!!
The usual errors I've seen cable producers make is the addition of a ground wire when one isn't needed (since the ground of the tonearm becomes the shield connection and is tied to pin 1 of the XLRs of both channels) which often means the shield isn't wired correctly. On occasion pin 1 of the XLRs also gets tied to the case ground of the XLR connector. If the phono section has a ground problem, this can introduce buzz. That one is easy to fix, you just open up the XLR connector and cut the connection between pin 1 and the case ground- they are right beside each other.
We ran a Kimber cable wired balanced and had no buzz issues at all. IOW once the cable is wired correctly it works quite well.
These days we use Mogami console cable as it has the low capacitance desirable in any phono cable. Its inexpensive, so when we make up a balanced tonearm cable the labor and the connectors are the lion's share of the cost. The Cardas DIN connector works quite well and is available in straight and 90 degree versions.
Since your setup works single-ended, its a pretty good sign that something is wrong with the cable and not the arm or cartridge!
The funny thing is I've had cable, tonearm and cartridge manufacturers all push back at me at one time or another stating that a tonearm with cartridge isn't a balanced source. It amazes me they actually can make the stuff and not know that its a true balanced source!!
The usual errors I've seen cable producers make is the addition of a ground wire when one isn't needed (since the ground of the tonearm becomes the shield connection and is tied to pin 1 of the XLRs of both channels) which often means the shield isn't wired correctly. On occasion pin 1 of the XLRs also gets tied to the case ground of the XLR connector. If the phono section has a ground problem, this can introduce buzz. That one is easy to fix, you just open up the XLR connector and cut the connection between pin 1 and the case ground- they are right beside each other.
We ran a Kimber cable wired balanced and had no buzz issues at all. IOW once the cable is wired correctly it works quite well.
These days we use Mogami console cable as it has the low capacitance desirable in any phono cable. Its inexpensive, so when we make up a balanced tonearm cable the labor and the connectors are the lion's share of the cost. The Cardas DIN connector works quite well and is available in straight and 90 degree versions.
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