Difference between levels of Left and Right ?

[s_sachin]

I have an NAD 2400 power amp with a Nad 325 acting as pre in my set up driving psb image B6.

I was feeling that the right channel was more "loud" then the left for some days. today that was confirmed when i was playing a jugalbandi CD of zakir hussain and sr. where the mixing is done so as to have each one on L and R channel.

What could be the problem ? I have exchanged L and R speaker and still right more loud then left, so speakers are good.

Any inputs ?

I tired lowering R and increasing L levels on the power amp which still does not solve the problem.

 

[baijuxavior]

What if the problem lies with you and not the amp or speakers? Try cleaning your ears. No offense meant. Infact, a forum member posted his experience a few months back.

 

[s_sachin]

Wow very helpful thanks. Jokes apart .. I have recently got the power amp, with integrated levels balanced.

 

[anm]

ears can be a problem, it is not a joke. Just ask someone else too to listen to your system. Is the right speaker closer to the side wall compared to left? Does your pre have a balance control?

 

[pupupuchi28]

I still experience this and this is what I have observed.
- In a stereo format, if the mixing is correct then musical instruments with musical parts placed at one place (guitar, synthesizer, piano etc) will sound more balanced then musical instruments with multiple parts (a full set acoustic drum). Drums have parts with lighter notes (hit hat, snare, high note cymbal) on one side and side drums, high toms on the other (side drums and high toms are louder and heavier). So whatever you do, the sound on one channel will play loud and the other light. If the track has lot of such multiple parts musical instruments then, what you are experiencing is nothing wrong. You can validate this if you play only vocals on both the channels.
- I couldn't understand your jugalbandi example. But if you are saying two tabla players are into a jugalbandi and still you find different levels of sound from both the channels, even that is very much possible. Typically when there is a jugalbandi with same instrument, both of them are tuned differently for the listener to identify the sound from different players. This can very well lead to different levels of sound from right/left. Even when the sound is balanced.
- Another example would be a bass heavy track. A bassist does not move across stage or does not have his/her instrument spread across stage. So typically they are mixed to sound from 'dead center'. But there are tracks when the mixing is done to lean on one side of the stage/speaker for better imaging. No wonder you will get imbalanced sound from such tracks. Example most of well recorded live acoustic versions of rock songs.
- Secondly, there can be closer reflection points for the louder side and open wall for the low level side.
- My examples are valid if the difference in levels is only +-3 dbl. Above that you need to "clean you ears" ( ) I guess or get the equipment checked.

Play any track which has only vocals, that should tell you if there is any problem at all or its just normal. Do test and reply.

 

[BLASTO]

Hey sachin,

Turn back opposite to the speakers and hear, that will clear dubts on your ear problem..

First check the balance cotrol in the 325. Is it in dead center? (It is the knob next to the Volume knob)
You should be adjusting that first..

Adjust that and check if the speakers even out. It is meant for that purpose only in case you are wondering..

 

[manoj.p]

You can find out if the problem is with the electronics. Try swapping the left and right channel on the amp first and then on the source. See if the sound is still more on right. If it is, then its the room playing that effect on the right/left channel.

If its your room, then you need to see if the room symmetrical. There could be something in the room on left side which is attenuating the sound or adding a room gain on right. Post a picture of the room in that case and members can help you.

 

[omishra]

I hope you already tried swapping inputs, outputs and speakers.

Okay so do below testing -
1. Download test tone of 1 KHz or any frequency of your choice from this place. [Low frequencies are less directional.]
2. Play this tone through your systems. Please note this is mono tone. So both speakers are should be playing equally.
3. Make swap of +ve, -ve of only one (left or right speaker ). This will make speakers out of phase.
4. Be seated at your listening position and balance left right so that you get dip in sound (minimum). This is because both speakers should be emitting same but out of phase waves. They will cancel each other when mixed each other with same level.

5. If problem is not solved then just make your back towards speakers and try step 4. This will exchange ear position wrt speakers. I had this problem with me and got my ear cleaned from ENT specialist.

NOTE: There are best ways to measure these other than human ears. We cold talk of them if you have some oscilloscope etc handy.

 

[s_sachin]

Thanks omishra and others. And i have been here long enough to have read your thread on "ear" problem and i can understand how irritating it must have been.

Anyway, i have just tried to swap the speakers and will follow the steps you guys have listed in the evening.

I think what Manoj mentions about room and placement, could be my problem. I have recently changed position of my rack to the left (as it was obstructing the TV view in the center). Althought the speaker is in line of view , might have to do something with the refection etc?

Will update. Thanks much.

 

[omishra]

ement, could be my problem. I have recently changed position of my rack to the left (as it was obstructing the TV view in the center). Althought the speaker is in line of view , might have to do something with the refection etc?

+1, I have experience this too.

Last year we added some furniture at left side wall. That reduced distance between Left speaker-wall and added mica surface near to speaker. So that either speaker in that place sounds brighter that right channel. That is due to reflection etc.
Also near my head, at left I have furniture surface which creates corner with back panel. So I use pillow to damp that corner and happy while listening.

 

[alpha1]

I would agree to above.
I have quad 11l2 - and one of them is pushed in the room corner.

I can definitely hear more bass coming from the corner than the one that is against the wall.

 

[s_sachin]

Ok switched the left and right speakers at the amp end and now the left channel was louder.

so 2 things ruled out - ear & placement.

Switched the source on the pre from aux to CD, that has helped, i think
Also in the particular song the left channel picks up after some time. I have asked a freind to listen on his system

I am referring to this album, although it is not the same track, but track number 1.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/McNWPD88FJU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Want to listen to more music before concluding . will update.

thanks much for all the inputs.

 

[pupupuchi28]

I am referring to this album, although it is not the same track, but track number 1.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/McNWPD88FJU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Clearly one set of tabla (I guess it was Ustad Alla Rakha Khan) had more projection (I would not call it level) than the other. But hey don't tell me that you were worried about your setup, just based on this track
BTW its a good track.

 

[s_sachin]

no no .. not just based on this track. Felt the vocals were not centered but towards the right for past few weeks since i connected the power..anyway i will be listening to the system for some time now before drawing any conclusions

btw i you like the track you should listen to track 1 .. unfortunately not on youtube.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

The big question is whether or not you can be sure the vocals were actually centred on the recording! I feel you have to, as suggested already, use test tones if you want to accurately assess balance, speaker positioning, etc.

I'm told that people use SPL meters. If you have an android phone, you can get a free app. Because you are only interested in relative values, ie, getting an equal reading at an equal distance/angle/hight from each speaker, there is no need to calibrate for actual levels. There is something called audio tool that will tell you the frequencies it is "hearing" (subject, of course, to the phone's bandwidth limit) as well as the levels and some other stuff.

 

[marsilians]

In my view, there is always an imbalance between right and left levels due to many reasons and some of which are mentioned in the thread.

1. hearing capabilities
2. placement of the system and speaker distance itself
3. source production
4. listening position
5. room treatments

Luckily, except for one's hearing issues most others can be addressed inexpensively and quickly.

This is also the reason any decent calibration system that comes with receivers tend to adjust the volume levels slightly differently as well.

 

[deba]

Why not play a mono signal and see whether both channels sound the same....considering a stereo recording for channel attenuation balance is not a good idea.

 

[alpha1]

I mentioned earlier about bass - that is still tolerable - because bass is not highly directional.

But imagine the "distress" - when I hear the cymbals / hi-hats in left speakers mainly.
It seems many studios record it that way - because its not the problem with my speakers.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Imagine the distress when, on a carnatic recording, I hear the mridangam split, right hand on right channel, left hand on left channel. Who but a lunatic would come up with that idea? Would they split the two hands of a keyboard player?

 

[alpha1]

Haha, looks like they use two mics, and the right one goes to right channel, left one goes to left.
LOL!

(same with the drums)