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Measuring Turntable Output With Multimeter?

Locorico

Locorico

New Member
Can I verify the output of each channel of my Pioneer TT with a digital multimeter? I have a PL-530 hooked up to an SX-1250 and have a definite drop off on one channel. Not MAJOR, but noticeable enough....and verified with meters in my tape deck (which read "even" with other input sources). I will switch out to Phono 2 inputs and see if that works. But if not, is there a way to measure the signal coming right out of the unit? If so, what am I measuring? i.e. what do I set the multimeter to?

Then...if it is the turntable....has anyone ever heard of this problem and if so, how do I fix it? Thanks!
 
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Locorico said:
Can I verify the output of each channel of my Pioneer TT with a digital multimeter? I have a PL-530 hooked up to an SX-1250 and have a definite drop off on one channel. Not MAJOR, but noticeable enough....and verified with meters in my tape deck (which read "even" with other input sources). I will switch out to Phono 2 inputs and see if that works. But if not, is there a way to measure the signal coming right out of the unit? If so, what am I measuring? i.e. what do I set the multimeter to?

Then...if it is the turntable....has anyone ever heard of this problem and if so, how do I fix it? Thanks!
Click to expand...

You can check resistance across the whole system (cart, arm wires, RCA's)
by checking each side RCA center to outside. if you have one side a whole bunch different, you then have to track that down. Normally the arm wires and RCA's won't add more than 3-5 ohms to what the cart would read.
 
Not sure what you're saying. I'm looking to do this without taking the TT apart. Can I just take a measurement off of the RCA's? If so....how????
 
Locorico said:
Not sure what you're saying. I'm looking to do this without taking the TT apart. Can I just take a measurement off of the RCA's? If so....how????
Click to expand...

put the pos probe on the center pin, put the neg probe on the outside metal of the RCA......see what the readings are. If the readings are far apart, then you will hvae to check individual items. The cart you check the red/green pins, and the white/blue pins. if the cart checks close to the same, there is a problem with the arm wires or RCAs
 
Locorico said:
Can I verify the output of each channel of my Pioneer TT with a digital multimeter? I have a PL-530 hooked up to an SX-1250 and have a definite drop off on one channel. Not MAJOR, but noticeable enough....and verified with meters in my tape deck (which read "even" with other input sources). I will switch out to Phono 2 inputs and see if that works. But if not, is there a way to measure the signal coming right out of the unit? If so, what am I measuring? i.e. what do I set the multimeter to?

Then...if it is the turntable....has anyone ever heard of this problem and if so, how do I fix it? Thanks!
Click to expand...

An ohm test at low impedance can burn out the coil. A voltage test would be meaningless, the level's too low.

Simply swap channels at the input to the phono preamp to see if the low volume goes the other side. To check the tonearm cable swap the channels at the cartridge pins.
 
MelodyMaster said:
An ohm test at low impedance can burn out the coil. A voltage test would be meaningless, the level's too low.

Simply swap channels at the input to the phono preamp to see if the low volume goes the other side. To check the tonearm cable swap the channels at the cartridge pins.
Click to expand...

Been doing it for 35+ years with a Fluke multimeter. haven't burnt that first coil in a MC, MI, or MM. Maybe with an analoge meter it's possible/probable.
 
Marc - that's what I thought. I tested it on another TT and got readings of 1.374 - right and 1.361 - left. This was with the meter set to read ohms. Does that sound about correct? I'm now going to try it on the TT in question.

However, should I be concerned about burning the coil????
 
Locorico said:
Marc - that's what I thought. I tested it on another TT and got readings of 1.374 - right and 1.361 - left. This was with the meter set to read ohms. Does that sound about correct? I'm now going to try it on the TT in question.

However, should I be concerned about burning the coil????
Click to expand...

With a FET multimeter it should be safe, not with an unamplified checker. Anyway weak output on one channel is most likely the stylus, one magnet is weak.
 
Sorry guys but I'm a novice here. What is an "FET multimeter"? I have a hand-held battery operated unit. Is that cool to use?

And, I checked this issue with another cart and it's the same. So, it's not the cart (unless they're both bad???). Thanks for all your help!
 
Locorico said:
Sorry guys but I'm a novice here. What is an "FET multimeter"? I have a hand-held battery operated unit. Is that cool to use?

And, I checked this issue with another cart and it's the same. So, it's not the cart (unless they're both bad???). Thanks for all your help!
Click to expand...

Did you change the NEEDLE? Or use the same stylus on both cartridges?

Amplified meters (and all digital meters) use Field Effect Transistors as the input amplifier.

And, again, did you switch leads to see if the OTHER channel has the low volume?
 
Locorico said:
Marc - that's what I thought. I tested it on another TT and got readings of 1.374 - right and 1.361 - left. This was with the meter set to read ohms. Does that sound about correct? I'm now going to try it on the TT in question.

However, should I be concerned about burning the coil????
Click to expand...

If the cart has that high of resistance in the windings, yes those would be good numbers. Some carts have lower resistance, some higher. That test just showed the whole system. Again, if it is off a bunch on the other table checking at the RCA's, check the cart next. If the readings are correct (close to each other) then the problem lies in the arm wires, including the headshell wires, or the RCA's.
 
Follow MelodyMaster's advice.

First swap the RCA jacks from the TT at the input jacks on your Pioneer. If the problem does not switch sides the problem is in your receiver.

If the problem does switch to the other channel the problem is in fact TT related.

Restore the original connections at the receiver and make sure the problem is back to the original channel. Then follow MelodyMaster's instruction and swap the right and left connections at the cartridge. If the problem changes channel then the problem is the cartridge. If no change then the problem is in the wiring.

Try these things then get back to us.
 
Sort of on the same topic - I have a spare table that I know has borderline RCA cables. Recommendations for replacement? I do occasionally fire up some old CD4, so I'd want to go with the low capacitance. I was thinking of cutting down some decent component video cables (YPbPr) and using those.
 
A couple thoughts and a caution

Tread softly when ohming carts:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=5055466&postcount=1

I vote for switching the leads, first to the pre, then at the headshell and seeing if that localizes the offender.
Or you could ohm the TT if you disconnected the headshell leads leaving the cart out of the plan but if your TT mutes the cart when not playing the water will be muddy and the muting relay or switches could be the problem.
If the cart is moving magnet (hi impedance) it's probably OK to check w/digital multimeter-I've done it w/Fluke 98 many times-but there are no guarantees.

And if your meter goes low enough on AC volts, you can monitor the signal while playing a record-it helps if it has a record function with average and peak recall functions.
 
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pfcs49 said:
Tread softly when ohming carts:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=5055466&postcount=1

I vote for switching the leads, first to the pre, then at the headshell and seeing if that localizes the offender.
Or you could ohm the TT if you disconnected the headshell leads leaving the cart out of the plan but if your TT mutes the cart when not playing the water will be muddy and the muting relay or switches could be the problem.
If the cart is moving magnet (hi impedance) it's probably OK to check w/digital multimeter-I've done it w/Fluke 98 many times-but there are no guarantees.

And if your meter goes low enough on AC volts, you can monitor the signal while playing a record-it helps if it has a record function with average and peak recall functions.
Click to expand...

I agree. The point is that if both cartridge channels are outputting something, anything at all, there is no way under any circumstance that measuring the DC resistance of the coils is ever going to demonstrate anything, even a short will not give a greater variation between channels than manufacturing tolerances.

A difference in volume levels is the easiest thing possible to track down, since the better-performing channel acts as the control, or reference, for the poor one. One just swaps the two channels at each stage from source to loudspeaker, to see which point causes the problem to switch sides.

There WAS a thread some time ago, in fact, in which a fellow blamed his CD player for low volume on one side, and after several pages of heated discussion it actually turned out that one of the OP's speakers was blown!
 
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