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Shindo Monbrison balance issue?

hi

anyone experienced this with their Monbrison (or other Shindo preamps)?

When playing at low volume, the sound is biased towards one side but once the volume is turned up, the level seems to balance itself...... i discovered this when I was burning in my set at low volume and when vocals are played - the voice will "shift" from one side to center as the volume is increased!

I have swapped the interconnects (left -right) going into and then out of the Monbrison to check if source or power amp could be the problem but the results seem to confirm that it is the Monbrison.

Another issue that I encountered accidentally was when playing cd and switching the input selector to other inputs, I can hear the music albeit at very low levels throught the speakers!! is this normal?

aside from these two worrying discoveries, the Monbrison sounds great!

thanking you in advance for your feedback.

best regards
fudgeo
dbarger
215 posts
 
This effect is common on many volume pots, but it does not occur on the Masseto which uses a different pot. It is even between channels even at low volumes. There is also no cross talk between inputs.
xronx
55 posts
 
I strictly would use a power amp with input volume potentiometers on a Shindo preamp. Since Shindo preamps usually have a very high output, combinations with power amps without volume potentiometers can be a mismatch since you don't come up in the range where the preamp potentiometer works in it's optimal range. Therefore all Shindo power amps have a input potentiometer, separately for each channel. You should set them that the preamp potentiometer is between 10-12 o´clock position.

The mentioned behaviour is not a Shindo specialty it's common on a lot of preamps which use old shool carbon potentiometers. The only thing is that most preamps have a lower output which might be less critical when pairing them with power amps without input controls.
fudgeo OP
9 posts
 
Hi
Is there a preferred method if you have the option of adjusting both the source (dac) output and the power amp output? i read somewhere that the power amp output should be close to its max to get the best out of the power amp.....
thanks again for your feedback.
best regards
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
"i read somewhere that the power amp output should be close to its max to get the best out of the power amp....."

This is the method suggested to me by my Shindo dealer.
I have Shindo amps, and the Monbrison. The only imbalance
I experienced is due to an opening from my listening room
in to my dining room. This has been an issue long before the Monbrison, but some room adjustments/treatments have basically solved this issue. I run both my Corton monos wide open on their V. controls. If I still had my room issue, perhaps I would slightly lower one channel to correct it. I run the Monbrison between 9:00-10:00 for
most all listening. Hope this helps.
carey1110's avatar
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carey1110
566 posts
 
I recently bought a Vosne-Romanee whitch had the same balance problem so bad that I called my dealer and he is replacing the Pot for me. This problem did not exist in the Masseto. My question is why can't the pre amp design take into consideration this issue and set the gain where this would not be a problem at all. I would think that having a volume control on the amp is just one more device in the signal path that you don't want. I'm sure the shindo amps sound great but wouldn't they be better without the volume pot? Don't get me wrong I love my preamp but I like listening at low levels too.
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