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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> L/R Channel Imbalance
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Message started by RJR on 12/30/19 at 19:48:19

Title: L/R Channel Imbalance
Post by RJR on 12/30/19 at 19:48:19

I am going to call Steve, however I am just looking for some input or suggestions.

Recently my Left channel was louder than the Right. Maybe 2-3dB. Very annoying. I changed/swapped cables, tubes and removed my preamp. After several scenarios, it was found to be my Torii MK3.

So this is what I have simply done; I flipped the impedance switch towards the tubes for the L channel and kept the R channel impedance switch in the opposite direction. This has actually made the balance of the L/R channel practically even. I don't think that this should be, but I didn't know what else to do short of sending it in for service, which is a pain.

Thanks

Title: Re: L/R Channel Imbalance
Post by Archie on 12/30/19 at 19:54:03

I occasionally get that and I tweak one of the output pots on my CSP3. Have you tried swapping tubes side to side to rule out a weak tube?

Title: Re: L/R Channel Imbalance
Post by RJR on 12/30/19 at 20:38:47

Archie,

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes I have swapped out tubes, yet I am not sure which one(s) would affect the imbalance. I will try again if I know which ones make the most impact.

Thanks again

Title: Re: L/R Channel Imbalance
Post by Archie on 12/30/19 at 23:05:58

Did you swap side to side to see if the opposite channel was now louder?

Title: Re: L/R Channel Imbalance
Post by RJR on 12/31/19 at 00:05:07

Ok, now I have no idea what is happening. I have KT66 Gold Lion power tubes and just switched the front ones. No change and still imbalanced. Then I switched the back ones and the sound became balanced with the impedance switches in their normal positions, not offset. I would have thought if it is a bad power tube, the imbalance would follow the bad tube, but it didn't. Also, I installed my extra EL34's, just to listen, and the sound is balanced with the impedance switches in the correct positions.

I just don't get it and I think it it possessed.

Title: Re: L/R Channel Imbalance
Post by Archie on 12/31/19 at 00:39:25

Go with it and see what happens. It's always possible that just jiggling changed something in the tube, socket or pin oxidation.

You can also now try shifting tubes front to back. Or, do you have a spare quad to try?

Title: Re: L/R Channel Imbalance
Post by MrDerrick on 12/31/19 at 01:22:48

Did you check your source?