installed new cartridge - only getting sound from right speaker

I bought a used Ortofon Rondo Bronze off ebay and have just installed it. It is the first time I've installed a cartridge and I probably haven't set it up as perfectly as is possible bit I can fine tune it later.
The problem is I'm only getting sound from the right channel (which sounds wonderful).
I have checked all the interconnects along the chain and checked the wiring of the cartridge to the tonearm and it all appears secure. Is it possible (likely) that the cartridge is faulty or is it more likely to be wiring or another problem?
I am not very skilled/knowledgable with these things. Thanks

 

Check your RCA cables first. Make sure something didnt get partially unplugged. After that point you could try swapping the wires on the cart to see if the sound moves to the other channel.

 

The RCA cables seem to be in properly but when I swapped the wires over the sound's still coming out of the right speaker. Guess that means it has to be the RCA cables somewhere?

 

So you swapped the cartridge tonearm wires and the sound still is missing on the left? Sounds like the tonearm wires are fine so the cartridge seems to be faulty.

 

It sounds as though it's the cartridge.

 

I wonder why it was for sale? Sell your broken gear on eBay no one will notice!

 

Guess so. I suppose the best I can do now is trade it in (eventually) for a new cart through Ortofon's trade in program

 

eBay has buyers protection, contact the seller. Did you use PayPal?

 

I used Paypal so will contact the seller. I've put my old cartridge back in and now I'm not getting any sound so maybe I've damaged some of my wiring. I'm also getting a hum in the preamp that I've never had before

 

preamp hum on phono only? Check your TT wiring, start at your head shell. Easy enough to damage the wires on that end.

 

Without any specialist tools how do I check that it's the wiring? I suspect I may have damaged it but nothing appears broken or loose? Am I best to take it to my dealer for repairs?

 

If you are unsure of your ability to test the wires you may be best served with a trip to the dealer. If your willing to fiddle around you may want to go in and clean all connections with contact cleaner or denatured alcohol. Start with your old cart as you know it works. Even one dirty (oxidized) connection can and will give you the symptoms you describe. put it all back together and see if it works. The cart leads are the weak link and may have broken in the tone arm if you pulled them. Don't forget to clean the RCA plugs and sockets. Use "Q" tips and go sparingly on the cleaning solution. unplug everything and make sure all is dry before plugging back in. Not responsible for bad advice Luck be with you!

 

Make sure your preamp/amp/speakerchain is intact by playing a cd. If that's ok, then you're looking at prior to the preamp, most likely. Loose connections at the cartridge pins is the most likely. Broken rca cables less likely as should only be one channel, not both. Usually the tonearm wire connectors aren't tight on either the respective cartridge or headshell pins.Gently check how easy it is to move the wire connectors on the pins. They should not slide around easily

 

OK, now I am confused -- your original cartridge was fine before you took it off and now plays in neither channel? Then I think the problem is not your new cartridge but something else, most likely the cartridge pin connection (as John above mentions) or maybe something further back toward the phono stage/preamp. I'd exhaust these possibilities before making a claim on the newer purchase.

 

Update - I got home from work and tried the new cartridge again. After a fair bit of messing around , I finally got sound coming out of both channels. Turns out it was just a loose tonearm wire after all.
The new cartridge sounds phenomenal compared to what I'm used to!
Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions

 

Very good! And we learn through experience. Glad it all worked out.

 

Great to read this! You must be really relieved about it only having been a loose wire. And, to top it off, higher quality sound, too! A happy ending. Makes me smile!

 

Those cartridge pin wire clips are tricky. If they are even slightly too big, they won't make proper contact. And they snap off easily when replacing.