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Speakers versus Balance vs Amplifier

I’ve been leaning towards a Pass amp to try the magic of Class A but couldn’t commit to an amplifier without a “balance” adjustment. Love the reviews of the new Int-60. 
 

Yet, when I listen to my Mc 252 through my SF Olympia IIIs, I find the “balance” feature is NOT the same as moving my seating position to the midpoint on my loveseat. I always sit on the right side and try to “balance” the sound by increasing the left side volume. 

Should be good, right ?  Most definitely not !!

But, If I just shift my body 15” to the left, center if the of the loveseat, ALL manner of magic happens . . . the music and singer are now right in front of me . . . wide, deep, tall . . . amazing !  No sense of sound on the right or left . . .  mostly just right at me !

I cannot achieve this effect with the “balance” adjustment and I’ve been trying for 4+ years ! ! !

So, maybe I’ll try the Pass amp, forget the balance control and just sit in the middle!

And, yes, I’ve had the speakers and JL subs toed in, straight, toed out, baffles aimed inwards, aimed outwards, etc, etc, etc  

My seat is about 8’ back from the amp (in the center) with the speakers about 5’ to each side !

I guess Nelson knows “balance” adjustments controls just don’t get it . . . . center listening position does ! 

So, do others agree or am I just not smart enough to use the “balance” control feature.

All feedback welcome  BTW, tonight, 54 years since first listened to, I find the musicality of AquaLung still awesome !  The louder the better . . . being 72 still has its benefits . . especially when you’ve got the house to yourself !

Thanks for reading this ramble !

 

128x128teboerio
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,670 posts
 

@teboerio 

Do you use XLR’s? If you do, check the continuity of whatever side sounds the softest.  I was going crazy for months thinking my hearing was going, so I had it checked and happily that wasn’t the problem. I switched my speaker cables and the same side was slightly softer. If I moved about 15” to the left it sounded correct. I brought in another amp, same problem. Turns out one of the wires in the XLR from my DAC to my integrated amp had come away from the connector. After months of going nuts, five minutes and a bit of silver solder, everything was as it should be!

All the best.

hickamore
659 posts
 

@carlsbad2 What brand of hearing aids has the "HIFI music" setting? Can't wait to try them . . .

teboerio's avatar
teboerio OP
30 posts
 

Wow . . . some really great responses. Thank you all . . . think I will attempt to move the loveseat 15” to the left so the right side seat is dead center. Wonder if I will get away with this as my wife is bound to notice . . . who wouldn’t.   
We shall see.

No XLR cables. Thanks again ! 

noodlyarm
103 posts
 

Balance adjusts the VOLUME of one channel vs the other.   Moving your seating position changes the TIMING of the sound waves arriving at your ears.   You can’t adjust timing with a balance control.

As other have suggested, you might be able to change the toe-in to get better imaging, but that is changing the received dispersion from your speakers, again, that doesn’t affect timing.

Your best be is to move you or your speakers so the timing is appropriate.   Then you can adjust the other things to dial it in.

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
1,005 posts
 

I also thought what about your hearing.

For years I sat on a couch on a crack to be centered when listening The crack is a poor place to sit so I got a recliner

 

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