Position of speaker cables and irregular behavior


 I move my speakers around a lot, experiment with placement, also move a few different sets in/out of rotation.  Reason:  I have a persistent problem in that my left speaker is dominant. Playing in mono the image is centered about 2 feet left of center. In stereo, not only are vocals shifted left, the right side just doesn’t carry the same level of volume , soundstage and depth. 

Equipment: Bryston 7b monoblocks, Bryston pre, Opp BDP105, Grover Huffman Empress speaker cables, Siltech xlr interconnects.

I have swapped/reversed every single component to try isolating a culprit. No luck.

Although there are differences in left/right side walls in the room, the parts that matter ( reflection points ) are basically the same.

my speaker cables are 8ft so I have about 3-4 ft of excess. When I move the cables around it affects the dominance to either lessen or exaggerate to the left.  Sometimes I get close to almost centering the image , when that happens the right side blooms open. But it lasts a few hours or days and then I’m back to playing with speaker and cable placement.  I’ve suspended the cables off the floor , sometimes helps temporarily. 

I have tried adjusting the balance on the preamp . that makes the volume equal but not the brilliance of music which remains duller on the right.

There are even times when I’m listening to a song and as I’m listening the image shifts either more to left or more to center.  I thought it might be a sound pressure issue in my room, then I move the speaker cables and it gets better....for a while.

its not my hearing, when I attend audio exhibitions or meets the sound is equal.

I have moved my speaker cables so many times, like bending a wire hanger back and forth, they eventually broke. Grover huffman was kind enough to repair my speaker cables...twice.. Have some bending going on to fasten on binding posts. 

I sprayed Deoxit on all connections, that didn’t make a difference.

i routed all power cords neatly and away from speaker cables.

I’m thinking of getting 4ft speaker cables so that I have a straight run. Otherwise I’m out of ideas.

any help?

 

 

jacksky

Showing 3 responses by oldhvymec

Simple test. SPL one at a time. It will tell you if its the speaker output or not.

If there is no SPL difference in the room. Go get your hearing checked. For all I know it could be that time your brother poped you in the ear and deformed it.. Weirder thing have happened.. 

A few times here people swore their hearing was fine to find out in certain rooms (like their own) they hear exactly what your explaining. Off center and low volume.

 

Regards.

Well have a good time OP, it's foggy here. It's a good day for something inside..

Time to feed the chickens..

Regards

@oldhvymec

as I remember the expression pop(p)ed has an entirely salacious meaning you surely didn’t intend?

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

No idea what you mean, ok then, slapped him up side the head, hows that? :-)

Deformed his ear, POPPED his ear drum.. You know the three stooges stuff.

I had to look up what salacious ment.. Mechanics and salacious don’t normally wind up in the same sentance.. :-) Just sayin’

Regards