Balance controls.

[catman]

G'day all, thoroughly checking out my newly built Akitika stereo headphone amplifier (which is excellent), I've realised that my long built DIY ESP P88 line preamp has a reasonably bad (and obvious) balance problem, with a definite bias towards the right channel. 

 

I originally built it with no balance control, but as the preamp is built with no errors the addition of a balance control should correct things, although I can't see why the issue exists in the first place!  How many still use balance controls and still find them useful?  Regards, Felix.   

[was_a]

I believe a balance control is essential in a hi-fi system, whether it be separate POTs for monoblocks or a simple knob on an integrated amp. Perhaps those lucky enough to have a dedicated, or purpose-built listening room can do without, but here in the real world where asymmetrical spaces, windows, furniture etc skew the acoustical response, having the facility to correct the balance is a godsend. Up to a 3dB correction doesn't negatively affect the stereo mix (the loudness of panned instruments etc), I find, although I've never needed to correct beyond 2dB. In my current setup, my left side-wall has a different angle to the right one, the extra reinforcement dragging the soundstage to the left. A 1.5dB correction solves this problem. My amp has a mono setting to make this an easy process. Back in stereo mode I can then happily live with whatever soundstage is in the original mix. (I won't correct for a classical recording that favours the left or right side of a concert hall, for example).

Edited November 22, 2016 by was_a

[GregWormald]

You mean the balance knob turns?

 

Greg

Edited November 23, 2016 by GregWormald

[was_a]

All knobs turn, Greg....

 

[walker1000]

I had to look and yes my pre does have one but along with the recording selector never gets touched, I am lucky to have symetrical speaker placement but can see it would be useful if you were not so lucky.

[AudioGeek]

Unless your speakers are a full range single driver you need more than a simple balance control on the pre. In an assymetrical set up you need separate gain controls for each driver to "balance" it out. Or use dirac/acourate/deqx etc to treat the speaker as a single driver and adjust the gain across the frequency response for each side to match.