How to Troubleshoot and Repair Your Equipment

If you have one channel out or cutting out:

If more than one source is bad, (ie tuner, CD, tape, etc), proceed to step #1 below. If the problem is ONLY your turntable, proceed to step 5 below.

If the problem is with one source only: Reverse the positions of the plugs coming from the defective source component where they enter the preamp or receiver. Make sure you turn the volume down all the way first. Do Not Turn Off The Units!

If the problem changes channels, the external component or cables are bad. Note which channel is now defective, turn the volume down again, and reverse positions of the plugs at the back of the external component you are testing. If the defective channel remains on the same side as the last test, the cables are bad. If it changes sides, the component is defective.

If the problem is on multiple sources, and there is a tape deck being used, disconnect the tape deck cables completely from the receiver or preamp to determine if the deck or cables are causing the problem. (Yes, a bad tape deck or cables can cause channel problems.)

If the problem remains:

Step 1) Note which channel/speaker is bad. Turn off amplifier POWER.
 
Step 2) Reverse the positions of the signal input plugs at the back of the amplifier, and turn it back on.

If the problem remains on the same speaker, the amp may be defective. See Step 3.

If the problem switches speakers, see Step 4.

Step 3) To eliminate the speakers and wires from being the problem, note which channel is defective. Turn the amp off and reverse the speaker wires at the back of the amplifier by moving the right channel wires to the left outputs, and the left to the right. Turn it back on. If the problem stays on the same speaker, the speaker or wire on the bad side is defective. If it reverses, it’s the amp.

If you followed step 2 as above, then:

Step 4)  If the problem changes sides, the preamp, cables, or associated equipment is at fault. Note the bad side, turn the amp off, and reverse the plugs (that feed the amp) at the back of the preamp (left to right, and right to left). Turn the amp on. If the problem remains on the same side, the cables between the preamp and amp are defective. If the problem switches sides, then the preamp is defective.
 

STEP 5: ONE CHANNEL IS OUT ON THE TURNTABLE ONLY.

A: Write down which channel is out.

B: Turn VOLUME DOWN all the way

C:  REVERSE the RCA plugs going into your PHONO INPUTS.  Turn volume up; if the problem stays on the same side, the turntable is OK and your PHONO PREAMP (or phono preamp section of your electronics) has failed. 

D: If the problem SWITCHES SIDES, write down which side is NOW bad and turn the volume DOWN all the way.

E: Reverse or SWAP the connectors at the back of the cartridge. Red to White, Blue to Green

F: Turn volume up. If the dead channel STAYS on the same side, the cartridge is OK, and your turntable wiring has failed. It is USUALLY the fine wires to the connectors, OR a loose connector. If the problems HEALS after doing the step E above, you likely have a loose connector, and all of them need to be checked for fit. If one or more is loose, they need to be VERY gently squeezed a bit more closed (while they are OFF the cartridge)  to make a better fit to the cartridge pins. It is also possible that one of the RCA connectors has failed -  and the cable going into the inside of it has come undone.  

Once done troubleshooting, return all connectors and plugs to their normal positions.