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Troubleshooting balance issues

I'm hoping to get help troubleshooting balance issues I'm having with my system.  

Pre Amp is Parasound Halo P5.  Amplifier is Emotiva XPA-200.

I'm getting between 1.5-6dB less on the right channel than the left.

Below are the troubleshooting steps I've taken. I'm hoping you might have a couple other ideas:

  • All testing either with Mono recordings or single channel pink noise
  • Tried different interconnects
  • Ensured all connections good
  • Tried balanced and unbalanced connections into the emotiva amp
  • Tried through two different preamps
  • Swapped L/R output from amp to speaker and balance issue stayed on R output and switched to other speaker
  • Moved/swapped L speaker to the R side and vice versa
  • Measured L and R put with single channel pink noise
  • Swapped L/R 
Occasionally on a power cycle on the amp it will come back centered. Occasionally I'll get a full day centered. More often than not the R channel will be off -1.5 to -6 dB. The about of gain loss seems to stay stable (i.e. If -1.5 it will stay -1.5 for a while).

Would appreciate any additional ideas!!  

Thanks :)
otherones
erik_squires
16,046 posts
 
Possible issues:

  • Room acoustics
  • Ear wax
  • Misalignment of speakers, vertically or horizontally.

First happens when you have one speaker closer to a wall, or one speaker has a wall and the other does not. This can be ameliorated somewhat by adding very thick panels on the existing wall, or relocating the speakers. Also look for reflections behind your listening location.  Despite common mythology, first reflections are NOT the main cause of this. Uneven reflection/absorption along the way often causes this.

Second is best treated by a doctor, but for this reason I use Nivea body wash, it does the best at regularly cleaning out ear wax. Without it my right ear tends to get waxy build up first. Based on your message, of having centering happen for a while and then gone, I think this is more likely your problem.

You can confirm the second by using headphones via any other device. A laptop, or phone.

Best,


E
erik_squires
16,046 posts
 
I use a laser level to precisely align my speakers. Placing them symmetrically about a point in 3D is important as is aligning them with your listening location.

Carpets can make this difficult, so speakers with adjustable feet work really well.
otherones OP
13 posts
 
Appreciate the response however each of those three fall apart when I swap switch the L / R output from the amp.  

If i put the L speaker cable in the R output from the amp the gain loss moves to the other side of the room.  Which would point to the R output from the amp being the issue, no?

Is it possible electronically to have one channel with inconsistent issues like that?
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Well it’s not a problem with the OPs ears if it moves speaker when the channels are swapped 😉

i had the same problem in my system and it turned out to be worn out tubes in my phono stage. I suspect you have a hardware problem, especially given what you say about power cycling. Unfortunately this likely means a repair is necessary, and yes one channel can fail before the other
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