Why do we need Balance Controls

PolkClyde
PolkClyde Posts: 662
edited February 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
if the output is the same in both channels? is this a stupid question? well, too late now.
PolkAudioClyde
Post edited by PolkClyde on
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited February 2011
    Maybe my ears need cleaning.sometimes,it appears that the Right channel has more output and now it seems like the left channel has more out put.Therefore,I have to adjust the balance control.maybe it's the source material. but,my system sounds better with the new MIT CABLE upgrade.I'm still in the burn in process.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited February 2011
    Because sometimes one ear is louder than the other.

    Some Dynaco integrated amps and accessories used to have a "Null" switch. Place the switch to the "Null" position, switch the amp to mono (if possible), and feed the amp what you know to be a mono signal. Then fiddle with the balance switch on the amp until the least amount of sound came out of the speakers. Then it was perfectly balanced. Some of those amps required the balance knob to be turned quite a bit before the least amount of sound was realized. Switch everything back when you're finished and it's awesome.
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited February 2011
    HA HA HA @ George,that makes sense.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited February 2011
    and sometimes the output on TT cartridges are not equal on both channels.

    But I use it because my right ear is ~2db less than my left so it shifts the soundstage and i find i start to turn my head if it isn't balanced.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2011
    Room imbalances also.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited February 2011
    Acoustic reflections can throw the balance off as well.
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  • dcoil
    dcoil Posts: 153
    edited February 2011
    I have been running a Yammy RX-A2000, which for a mid-tier receiver really did sound pretty good. However, when I did some speaker mods, I first did one speaker and then wanted to A/B and see the difference between them. I had planned on first going all left speaker, then all right in mono. Well, no 'mono' mode and no balance (at least not anything that is straight forward). I am using this receiver for HT now, and I will become more familiar with it. But I miss the mono and balance controls. If they are truly not there, I'm sure they were omitted for cost.
    SDA SRS modded: X’ovrd, de-polyed, inductorized, interconnectorized, re-posted, dynamited, RDO’d, spiked, gasketed, ringed (Larry's), and grill cloth blinged! Done this on my own? Not a chance. Thanks to Raife and all who forged easy to follow upgrades. At least a 100% improvement in sound and my personal listening pleasure! :cheesygrin:Pass XP-10 preamp, Parasound A21 amp, Pioneer Elite DV-58AV (Ric Shultz modded), Audioquest Sky IC's, No longer need my Sunfire sub after mods...
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2011
    Volume controls usually found in lower end equipment can have channel imbalances of >1db in certain ranges of their travel.This could cause a slight image shift to one side or the other.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2011
    Why? To drive OCD people crazy.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited February 2011
    maybe it's the source material.

    That's exactly what it is. Leave the balance in the middle...not every song is perfectly balanced.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited February 2011
    Sit in the sweet spot also. If you don't know what that is? I can't help you.

    I'm sorry but while sometimes when this question is asked, they walk around the room and ponder the question.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2011
    it was functional for use with vinyl playback.

    RT1
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited February 2011
    Looky at who crawled out of the rabbit hole.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2011
    just a troublemaker mr knight.

    RT1
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited February 2011
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    it was functional for use with vinyl playback.

    RT1

    Everything is okay,I'm always tweaking,with different kinds of music.I have been on the Dixie Chicks trip,for the pass few days.I think it's the source material. They Sound real good n HDCD.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • BuckeyeTim
    BuckeyeTim Posts: 483
    edited February 2011
    At the moment, I have my balance set just a hair to the right. I have one speaker farther from one wall than the other. And the speaker on the short side also has a 7.5' tall x6' wide bookcase somewhat in its path. That hair bit of balance adjustment puts the sweet spot right back in the center.
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited February 2011
    I jumpered it out. Spin the knob all you want.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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