Since it is a tube preamp, maybe one of the tubes is at its' end.
I would call CJ, I bet they know the answer.
B
I would call CJ, I bet they know the answer.
B
Puzzling preamp problem
On some, but not all sources (CDs, records) the right channel of my system seems to overpower the left. This mainly happens in orchestral music.
What’s puzzling is that most sources usually sound balanced between the two channels. When there is a singer or soloist the sound comes from the center. But when loud instruments (brass mainly) are in the right channel, the left channel seems to migrate to the center.
But when there’s a particular designated voice or instrument in the left channel, it’s very audible in the left speaker. Very puzzling!
I assume it’s a preamp problem. I have a vintage Conrad-Johnson PV 11 preamp.
The situation has arisen with a variety of amplifiers so I don’t think the problem is there.
Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon?
I guess I’ll have to break down and get the preamp looked at.
What’s puzzling is that most sources usually sound balanced between the two channels. When there is a singer or soloist the sound comes from the center. But when loud instruments (brass mainly) are in the right channel, the left channel seems to migrate to the center.
But when there’s a particular designated voice or instrument in the left channel, it’s very audible in the left speaker. Very puzzling!
I assume it’s a preamp problem. I have a vintage Conrad-Johnson PV 11 preamp.
The situation has arisen with a variety of amplifiers so I don’t think the problem is there.
Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon?
I guess I’ll have to break down and get the preamp looked at.
17 responses Add your response
Could this be normal? I listen to a lot orchestra and experience this phenomena all the time. With an orchestra arrangement, the 1st and 2nd violinist sit up front and to the left of center (stage right) and thus are often louder. When there is a soloist, the soloist is typically front and center or just to the right of center. |
I’ll try swapping the cables and see what happens. Swapping the tubes is more of a hassle because I have to remove all the tiny screws from the chassis and remove the cover, but it’s worth a try Interestingly though, I had a several hour listening session with a friend today, and after everything was warmed up, the problem disappeared and everything sounded great. So It appears to be a warmup problem, which leads me to suspect the anomaly is caused by the preamp, perhaps a weak tube. |
Well, the problem seems to have resolved itself! I just had my monoblock amplifiers returned to me, modified last week. They seem to have broken in during my long listening session yesterday, with the result that the whole system opened up, and lo and behold, the channels equalized. I know I mentioned the problem occurred with other amps, but it wasn’t as acute. Anyway, for now, I’m a happy camper! Thanks for all your suggestions. |
That's because the preamp uses tube, perhaps one of them is nearing the end of its life.You should contact since I bet they know the solution. A Jumble or Scramble Word Game is a game where a mixed up set of letters are provided and you have to unscramble the letters to find the word. Sometimes, clues are provided to help you figure out the puzzle. Other times, all you have are the jumbled letters. Jumble games involve the skill of solving anagrams. |
That’s because the preamp uses tube, perhaps one of them is nearing the end of its life.You should contact since I bet they know the solution. A Jumble or Scramble Word Game is a game where a mixed up set of letters are provided and you have to unscramble the letters to find the word. Sometimes, clues are provided to help you figure out the puzzle. Other times, all you have are the jumble answer letters. Jumble games involve the skill of solving anagrams. |
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