2. amps-preamps
  3. 1374102634

Do I have a "balance" problem?

My system is in a dedicated room, 13 x 12.5 x 8.5, with one chair centered between the speakers. The speakers are several feet away from the front and side walls. I've treated the room, including absorption panels to deal with first reflections. Here's my issue: to get proper L/R imaging, I have to set the balance control in favor of the right channel somewhere between (depending on the recording) 1:00 and 2:30 on the dial. My system has always been this way and the issue is consistent with both LP and CD playback. I recently auditioned three line stages and each one required the balance control set to the right. By way of "troubleshooting," I've switched tubes, cleaned all contacts, and systematically switched L/R cables on each pair of interconnects one at a time. Nothing changes. There is no degradation of sound in the right channel (at least to my ears) and when the balance is set properly the music sounds great. But I just don't understand why the balance control needs to be set so far to the right. Does anyone else out there have a similar situation? Is there something "wrong" with my system? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
crazee01

Showing 1 response by heyraz

heyraz
177 posts
 
You can also rule out your ears by simply turning around. I think it's room acoustics and speaker placement that are causing your problem. Same issue in my room, left speaker is further from the corner than the right, more rear reflection and sound is louder on that side. When I change the placement of the right speaker, the problem resolves.

I once had an amp that used a timed relay to protect the speakers from any turn on/turn off pulse. After a few years the relay's contacts degraded and affected the sound in a very similar manner. Sometimes the right channel wouldn't even play until the volume passed a threshold level, and at low volumes the left channel was always louder.
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