2. amps-preamps
  3. 1253067970

No preamp 'Balance' control?

Are preamps made without a Balance control? If so, can you live without control of balance (happily)? Depending on the recording, I make slight balance adjustments to lock everything in balance. Is this some sort of purist approach (if so, why not use a seperate volume control for each channel), or what's up with no balance control?
In advance, thanks!
louisl
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Right now I am using a SS pre  that is not quite as good as my 8 tube pre simply because it has a balance control that gives me overall better sound with the limited locations I have in my 800sq ft condo .


bondmanp
1,836 posts
 
schubert - If your SS pre has a tape monitor output or some sort of home theater pass through, you can route your source components through the SS pre and then into the tube pre, adjusting the balance in the SS and volume in the tube pre.  Hopefully, both are quiet enough that the elevated noise floor won't be an issue, or, at least, less of an issue than your current situation.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Thanks bondmanp, I'll give that a try . My SS pre is still very good though .
wolf_garcia
6,796 posts
 
So to sum up, most people CAN'T move a little to the left? Right? No?
bondmanp
1,836 posts
 

@wolf_garcia - Well, IMHO, there is more to it than that.  When you move your seat, it changes more than just the relative loudness of the speakers.  Each position in the room will have its own room response, so if you have dialed your system in for one spot, moving out of that spot has costs, like a change in bass response, or reflections in higher frequencies. 


And, I am not ashamed to admit that I sometimes listen to random tracks on my server.  Should I move my chair for every new track?  Is that a better solution than tapping the balance control on my remote?  I am not looking for an abdominal workout, wolf, but rather to relax and enjoy the music (directly centered) in front of me.

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