Help, my stereo will only play in mono!

[Vinyl-Addict]

Over the last few days I noticed my soundstage had shrunk to the point where stereo LP's had a narrower soundstage than mono so I put on a few LP's that have specific characteristics in stereo, ala Early Beatles Stereo records and I noticed that I am not getting any separation, it's as if I'm getting mono from stereo recordings. IOW, I get the same signal from both channels. I checked all my connections and everything is fine.
I even hooked up my digital processer to see if I was imagining things. CD's played beautifully so I know my amplification is not the problem. I can't run my TT through the digital pre/pro or I'd check to see if my cartridge is the culprit.
My system at fault is the TT with a Koetsu Black cart. going to an EAR 864 preamp. The phono stage and linestage are in the same box so I can't separate the 2 to troubleshoot.
What do you think could be at fault, cart, or preamp, or other? Thanks for any help you can offer in advance!

[Sckott]

Do you have a variac? Maybe trace the wire form the cart to the input jacks?

[Vinyl-Addict]

Originally posted by Sckott
Do you have a variac? Maybe trace the wire form the cart to the input jacks?

Sckott, I'm sorry but I don't even know what a variac is. :confused:

[Sckott]

Well, or a little volt meter. Something with a resistance setting. You can trace the wires on the cart to the - + L R of the outboard wires on the arm of your turntable. Radio Shack sells a little one for under $10.

If you can find discreet connections of - + L R then things should be isolated to your line/phono stage.

It's just the analog end that's trouble, eh?

[Vinyl-Addict]

Yeah, I hooked up my pre/pro to my amp so I could test the amp. I have an old Sony CD changer I will connect to the EAR preamp when I get home. That will at least tell me if my linestage is at fault.
I have'nt messed with my cart alignment, it has worked great for over a year now.
I do have a voltmeter at work so I'll take it home tonight. Thanks for your help! :)

[Vinyl-Addict]

Well I traced the problem to a faulty pair of RCA outputs on the preamp.
The EAR 864 preamp has 2 sets of RCA outputs so I swapped the interconnects from one to the other and voila, I have stereo again. I don't know what could be wrong with that pair of jacks, they worked fine for the last year. I will take it in for repair, but at least the other pair of outputs work ok. :)

[Dave]

Originally posted by Vinyl-Addict
Well I traced the problem to a faulty pair of RCA outputs on the preamp.
The EAR 864 preamp has 2 sets of RCA outputs so I swapped the interconnects from one to the other and voila, I have stereo again. I don't know what could be wrong with that pair of jacks, they worked fine for the last year. I will take it in for repair, but at least the other pair of outputs work ok. :)
Perhaps it would be a better bet to go for the Grover's now that this set has gone kaput. Just a thought ;)

[Vinyl-Addict]

Originally posted by Dave

Perhaps it would be a better bet to go for the Grover's now that this set has gone kaput. Just a thought ;)

Hi Dave, it's just one pair of outputs on the preamp. I would consider Grover's linestage if my preamp had other issues though.:)
BTW, I do like his interconnects, I have 3 pair.