Right Channel Lag


Never had this happen before. Hoping someone can tell me why. Whenever I use any of my sources, CD, TT, or tuner and begin to turn up the gain, sound always comes from my left channel speaker before the right. I've switched interconnects and swapped right channel for left. Then, it is the right (formerly left) channel that comes in first. Where do I look to source this problem. I should mention that after volume is at normal levels there does not seem to be an obvious imbalance between the two channels.
motdathird

Showing 2 responses by sean

Sounds like the attenuator in the preamp is not tracking at the same rate for both channels. It is not uncommon for this to happen from what i've seen.

The manufacturer of one of my preamps literally charts the difference in gain settings as one progresses through the volume control. They do this as standard practice when one of their units are sent in for repairs or inspection. It was viewing these results that made me start checking into precision stepped attenuators. The pots used for volume on this preamp are literally "mil-spec" devices. Even using what were probably some of the finest pots available at the time, the results were not nearly as linear in tracking left to right as i would have liked to have seen. You may be having similar problems.

If one of the units is tubed, the tubes from one channel could have slightly different gain curves as compared to those of the other channel. Sean
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Mot, leave the same tubes in the preamp, just switch the channels that they are operating in. If the "lag" changes channels along with the tube swap, you've found your culprit. If not, time to call up Sherlock Holmes : ) Sean
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