Can I tweak L-R balance by differntial biasing?


My new (to me) Almarro integrated does not have a balance control but my room is slightly asymmetrical. I'm playing a little w speaker toe-in to try to correct this, but I just had another idea. Bias spec is 0.20 volts, with 0.18 volts suggested as a minimum which will reduce output slightly but provide more tube life. It seems to me that if I bias the output tube slightly lower on the "louder" side, it might shift the balance slightly toward the side that is biased higher. Does that make any sense???
swampwalker

Showing 1 response by almarg

Hi Michael,

I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think that approach would accomplish what you want. I believe that gain, which is what you are trying to change, will vary very slowly as bias is adjusted. If you want to unequalize the gains by say 2 or 3 db or more, I suspect that you would have to change the bias setting by much more than the maximum recommended reduction of 10%, even if you were to raise the setting in the other channel by a reasonable amount. That would most likely result in the sonic quality of the amp, as well as its maximum power capability, being considerably degraded.

Best regards,
-- Al