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Lower Volume from One Monoblock

Technical question on Cary 500 monoblocks. One amp is noticeably lower in output volume than the other. My sound was off-centered, a good bit louder on the left. Swapping the monoblocks left to right the louder sound swapped too. The left channel is now lower in volume. Any ideas on what goes wrong with a monoblock to reduce the output. The amp plays, it is just lower in output than the other amp?
stickman451
stickman451 OP
553 posts
 
I've been looking at the Bryston 28B SST2. I tried the new version of the cary 500's but they had some sort noise problem via the single ended inputs; talked to cary but could not work it out. Not really sure what caused that noise issue.

Have you tried the 28B sst2?
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Stickman, I doubt that the 28BSST2 would be a suitable match for your Hovland preamp. As with a number of other Bryston amps, its input impedance is lowish, in this case either 15K or 16.5K for its unbalanced input, depending on what document is looked at. From JA's measurements of your preamp:
Despite the claim that the HP-100 uses a cathode follower output stage, its source impedance was high at 2.4k ohms, rising to 4.3k ohms at 20Hz. The partnering power amplifier would best have an input impedance of at least 47k ohms if the bass is not to sound lean.
Regards,
-- Al
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
Stickman, I haven't tried any of the Bryston amps in my set up. It's been all Cary for a long time now.
stickman451 OP
553 posts
 
Almarg, thanks for the info and response. I too have read that Stereophille review and the Hovland does have a very high impedance. So, you don't think it would match well at all? I am using Magnepan 20.7's too.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
So, you don't think it would match well at all?
I wouldn't recommend it. It MIGHT sound fine on most recordings, since what would be adversely affected to the greatest degree is mainly the bottommost octave. But why introduce a known issue into your system when there are other choices available?

Regards,
-- Al
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