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Do I have a "balance" problem?

My system is in a dedicated room, 13 x 12.5 x 8.5, with one chair centered between the speakers. The speakers are several feet away from the front and side walls. I've treated the room, including absorption panels to deal with first reflections. Here's my issue: to get proper L/R imaging, I have to set the balance control in favor of the right channel somewhere between (depending on the recording) 1:00 and 2:30 on the dial. My system has always been this way and the issue is consistent with both LP and CD playback. I recently auditioned three line stages and each one required the balance control set to the right. By way of "troubleshooting," I've switched tubes, cleaned all contacts, and systematically switched L/R cables on each pair of interconnects one at a time. Nothing changes. There is no degradation of sound in the right channel (at least to my ears) and when the balance is set properly the music sounds great. But I just don't understand why the balance control needs to be set so far to the right. Does anyone else out there have a similar situation? Is there something "wrong" with my system? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Only thing to add is that there also a possibility that you have a partial hearing loss on the right side. There are on-line tests you can perform to check that out; no substitute for an audiologist but it's a start.
tboooe's avatar
tboooe
1,009 posts
 
Swampwalker is on to something. Back in highschool I blew out my left ear drum (after getting steamrolled by some huge linebacker). To this day, sometimes my left ear will sound as if its plugged like when I am in an airplane. This makes the sound shift to the right. I routinely have to blow out my ears to get the balanced centered again. I can hear this "plugging" happen right during a song as the sound will shift to the right and the music sounds congested to me. I should have stuck with the chess club like my mom recommended.
elescher's avatar
elescher
112 posts
 
Have you actually checked the distance from the center of your listening chair to the tweeter of both speakers? If you have positioned your speakers by measuring from the walls to the speakers there is still a good chance they are not equadistant from your ears. MOST rooms are not perfectly symetrical. Also if you rely on using various things hung on the walls as references for toe in and location, this can also give less than optimum results.

Try tying a string or wire (you don't want anything that will stretch) to the center of your chair and pull it tight to each of your tweeters. This is a good starting point in assuring the speakers are equadistant.
bojack
636 posts
 
Yeah, probably your hearing if you've done everything suggested. I went into a depression after my hearing was shot in my left ear (someone blew a kazoo into my ear at a bar at point blank range)...I use a digital EQ to "fix" it, but listening will never be the same. Good luck, because it's a real pain in the ass.
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crazee01 OP
9 posts
 
Thanks to all for your responses. I have checked everything up to the amp connection, but will now check amp, speaker cables and speakers themselves, including placement. The hearing loss possibility is depressing, but I will enlist my kids to listen and see if they hear things differently. Or maybe I should just not worry about it and enjoy the music?!
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