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Please help, obsessive audiophile question

Ok, I did something really bad to myself, I got the XLO test CD. What I discovered was a channel imbalance, that, I think, is due to my room. Here is what I did:

First, using a laser, I perfectly centered my speakers in the room, and dialed in an equal amount of toe in on both sides. Also, again using the laser, I checked for dead center on the listening position and dead centered the components between the speakers.

Next, with the balance control centered, I ran the 315 khz test tone on repeat, and measured the voltage at the amp terminals. The voltage was nearly perfectly even. I repeated this at several volume levels, and usually was within a few percent. What ever variation occured between the channels was randomly split between left and right.

Next, the balance test on repeat. With the lights and my eyes closed, I used the remote to adjust the balance on the preamp to center the voice. I started out in the centered, extreme left and extreme right positions, and did my best to make sure I was unaware of how much adjustment I was dialing in. I repeated this multiple times, and got perfectly consistent results. I end up with the balance control turned about 4 "taps" to the right, which translates to a 10% voltage in favor of the right channel at 315 khz. I do not have a sine wave generator or ocilliscope, so I can not verify this over multiple frequencies, but my "aural" measurements have proved to be very consistant.

I adjusted a few moveable items in the room, but, due to some furniture that can not be moved, I think I am getting more reinforcement from the room on the left side.

So, what to do? Will this balance adjustment adversly affect my tube amps? Will one side go through tubes quicker? Should I try to move one speaker back? If I do move the one speaker back, will I adversly effect the time alignment between the two speakers? Or should I stop stressing and just leave the balance control off center.

I know it sounds compulsive and weird, but it sort of bugs me to see the balance control not dead center. Again, this IS an obsessive audiophile question;)

Thanks in advance for all your thoughts.

Ron
rlips
rlips OP
105 posts
 
Thanks again for more great ideas, please keep them coming.

Sean: The speakers are stats, (actually hybrids), so I imagine either it works or does not? It is possible to easily switch only the panel section of the speakers, so I may try this. I suppose the internal step up transformers could have differing gain. My hunch is that the room is the culprit, but if one speaker is indeed louder, it may be that switching the locations could help, especially if the louder speaker is now in the location that is receiving the room re-enforcement.

Zargon: It is evident, mostly in that the vocals always seem to come from left side of the sound stage. If I close my eyes and "point" at the vocalist, I almost aways point at the same spot, about 20% over to the left.

Zoya: Thanks, I don't know if the pun was inentional or not, single "molt" vs. single "malt". molt: v.tr. To shed or cast off (a bodily covering) hehe

Colitas: Yep, the system passes the phase check with flying colors. Is there an audiophile brand of absinthe? One that comes in a non resonant bottle????

Rockvirgo: I will try that. A question about that procedure: should I place them as close to the center as possible and listen from my seating position? Or should I listen close, as this is just to determine if the amount of energy emitted from each speaker is equal?

Thanks
rockvirgo
587 posts
 
Rlips, if your speakers are not mirror images of each other getting them to cancel may be a challenge. As long as they face each other as closely as possible it probably doesn't matter where in the room they or you are. You'll know when you've got it right. If you really want to obsess take them out in the driveway into "free air" and amuse the neighbors. Just don't blame me if you smack them into each other during alignment! Give it a try and let us know if it confirms your earlier balancing acts.
rlips OP
105 posts
 
Rock: LMAO thinking about the driveway thing, yeah, my speakers and a couple hundred pounds of tube amps in the driveway. They would lock me away.

I am going to run the test tonight, my wife is going out with the kids, so I can happily stress out;)

R
chazro's avatar
chazro
575 posts
 

I suffer from this same problem and I've always made the adjustment with my balance control. This past year I made the leap to tubes. I've bought a Music Reference RM9 amp and a RM5 MkIII preamp and I'm lovin' em! I didn't realize that I was causing uneven tube usage until I read this thread. Can anyone elaborate? How soon will this problem manifest itself? Thanks to this thread I think I'm going to play with my speaker placement, I don't want to mess with my tubes!;)
buscis2's avatar
buscis2
468 posts
 
Balance control? I don't even have a front panel power switch.

Although the manufacturer was gracious enough to provide me a means in which to adjust the volume.
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