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IMAGE PROBLEMS VOCALS OFF CENTER

My image is off center.
I have changed practically everything.
Swapped interconnects, cd players, placed left speaker on the right and right speaker on the left and vice versa. Switched amplifiers, power cables etc etc. The image (noticeable on vocals) is about a foot to the right of center. DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!!!! I have this gear in an architecturally sound room. It was designed by Obsession AUdio in the U.S. and it is definitely not a room issue. It is not my hearing (as first thought) because others have noticed and confirmed the problem as well. HAS ANYONE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM?
Could it be an electrical issue coming in to the house????? Is that even possible?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Randy
butterscotchmusic
butterscotchmusic OP
24 posts
 
The room is perfectly symmetrical in every way. Some angles designed accoustically but all symmetrical. The room only has a leather sofa, placed perfectly in the rear center and about 6 feet from rear wall. A nice large wool rug, once again, centered. All tubes have been switched, and, as I say, I have tried swapping the tube amp for a solid state. Same issue. This problem was also prevalent in the smaller bed room where I had the system until 2 months ago. Could wiring induce interference that may cause this?
sns
3,338 posts
 
I can sympathize with you on this one, in my case totally room related. It could be the volume pot on your preamp (or amp, cd player, etc.) mistracking, it seems you've checked everything else. Otherwise it sounds like room or speaker postioning.
jwmazur
191 posts
 
A preamp or linestage with a balance control is the ticket. I go through the same thing with tube variables, recordings, and all the other things can can screw your day. The equipment designers that leave off balance controls in the interest of purity are mad.

Another method you might try is called Masters. Sumiko has some dealers who are trained for speaker placement that matches their placement in the room according to equal pressurization. Rod Tompson at Soundings in Denver is rather adept at this.
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
Shadorne wrote

"If you have swapped interconnects (between source and power amp) and you have (in a separate test) swapped speakers with their respective cables (left channel to right side and right channel to left side) then you have eliminated your system as the source of the problem."

So did you ever swap the speaker connections so that the left output of the amp is driving the right speaker and the right output of the amp is driving the left speaker ?
I didn't see an answer to this question, and in my opinion it is the key question.
gregm
3,409 posts
 
Try what Seandtaylor recommends above. Then, also try forward toeing-in /very slightly/ your right speaker -- i.e. the speaker the vocals are closest to.
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