Left and right channel imbalance when connected to receiver via "Main" or headphone jack but "Zone 2" channel balance sounds fine.

[DudE132]

I'm inexperienced with audio tech so I'll try my best explaining this. For reference I'm using a 2 channel setup with the receiver connected via optical cables. The settings have been reset to factory defaults several times as well so left over settings wouldn't be the cause.

I have a used Anthem MRX500 receiver that has audio imbalance in the "Main" port and the headphone jack. The "Main" port and the headphone jack output much louder volume to the left speaker while the right is significantly quieter.

When hooked up to "Main" on my receiver, with the left speaker connected to "Front L" and right speaker in "Front R" the left speaker is louder. If I swap these inputs and have the left speaker in "Front R" and the right speaker in "Front L" the right speaker will be louder. So essentially, whichever speaker is connected to "Front L" will be louder while whichever one is connected to "Front R" will be quieter.

If I plug headphones into the headphone jack it has the exact same issue where left is louder and right is much quieter.

Most importantly, if I instead connect my speakers to "Zone 2" the audio appears to sound properly balanced between the 2 speakers.

1. What could be causing this?
2. Is there something defective with the receiver? I'm not sure how old my specific model is, but the MRX500 appears to have released 9 or 10 years ago. Could age/wear and tear be the culprit or some part failing?
3. Would it be worth taking in for repair or am I better off just using Zone 2 for now until upgrading with a replacement receiver?

 

[lovinthehd]

Is it the same source or this is with any source? All sound modes? Curious, how much of a shift if you change R/L levels does it take to sound centered?

Sounds like you've done what you can with the resets and all, tho. Might confer with Anthem. Who knows how much it might cost or if its even possible or what its worth....but it is an old avr and likely not worth a lot in any case, personally I'd look for something else. Good luck!

 

[Truthslayer]

Do you have a manual ? If not here you go. mrx_300500700_manual.pdf (anthemav.com)

Have you tried reloading factory settings ? Have you tried adjusting the levels ? Have you tried adjusting the balance ? You may have already tried these things, hopefully the manual can assist you better.

If you have the remote, push channels, each time you push, it will change starting with the left speaker. See if the right and left channel are set the same.

It's possible something may have happened to the software, in which case it can be reinstalled (by computer) according to the manual.
You may also have a bad speaker connection soldering joint on the front right speaker connection on the Anthem.

 

[DudE132]

Is it the same source or this is with any source? All sound modes? Curious, how much of a shift if you change R/L levels does it take to sound centered?

Sounds like you've done what you can with the resets and all, tho. Might confer with Anthem. Who knows how much it might cost or if its even possible or what its worth....but it is an old avr and likely not worth a lot in any case, personally I'd look for something else. Good luck!

It's like that with any source and all sound modes. Zone 2 is the only time the audio sounds balanced.

Even when increasing the R levels it still doesn't sound right. The R channel will get louder but despite the gain in volume, the audio it puts out still manages to sound underpowered compared to the L channel if that makes sense.

 

[lovinthehd]

It's like that with any source and all sound modes. Zone 2 is the only time the audio sounds balanced.

Even when increasing the R levels it still doesn't sound right. The R channel will get louder but despite the gain in volume, the audio it puts out still manages to sound underpowered compared to the L channel if that makes sense.

Sounds like the right amp channel/module is bad. But that's as technical as I can get ....someone might come along and offer a more technical explanation, tho.

 

[Truthslayer]

Sounds like the right amp channel/module is bad. But that's as technical as I can get ....someone might come along and offer a more technical explanation, tho.

That was my thought at first. But then he said in zone 2 it works as it should.
So i just threw some trouble shoots out there along with the link to the manual.

 

[lovinthehd]

That was my thought at first. But then he said in zone 2 it works as it should.
So i just threw some trouble shoots out there along with the link to the manual.

Zone 2 uses the right channel amp? I wouldn't think so, but...

 

[Truthslayer]

Zone 2 uses the right channel amp? I wouldn't think so, but...

I would think it uses both left and right ? Could be wrong, may have totally separate amp modules from the main.
I just figured zone 2 piggy backed off of the main channels.

 

[lovinthehd]

I would think it uses both left and right ? Could be wrong, may have totally separate amp modules from the main.
I just figured zone 2 piggy backed off of the main channels.

Old A/B type setups might have shared amp channels. I've not seen an avr that shares main amps with zones.

 

[Truthslayer]

Old A/B type setups might have shared amp channels. I've not seen an avr that shares main amps with zones.

Yeah, i honestly don't know for sure. Seeing that the unit has been out for 10+ years or so, i thought it may be an option.
If i was him I would deff call Anthem tomorrow or email them. If he gets lucky, could be something simple.

 

[sterling shoote]

Read the manual to learn how to access the digital balance control for the zone which is not balanced and adjust. That's it.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah, i honestly don't know for sure. Seeing that the unit has been out for 10+ years or so, i thought it may be an option.
If i was him I would deff call Anthem tomorrow or email them. If he gets lucky, could be something simple.

Think about it, how could it play zone 2 content separate from main zone if it needed to use the same amp for a channel? Zone will usually just do dual-duty with a surround terminal and/or pre-out...

 

[TLS Guy]

This is going to be a hardware problem. It is impossible to make suggestions without knowing the circuit. In any case it needs to go in the test bench, case open, connected to a signal generator, and then you go round the likely spots with the O-scope until you find the offending region resulting in the lack of gain, and then zero in on the culprit component.
It is a waste of time trying to solve this without bench work. Lastly even increasing the gain does not make that channel sound right, so there are issues other than just gain.

 

[sterling shoote]

This is going to be a hardware problem. It is impossible to make suggestions without knowing the circuit. In any case it needs to go in the test bench, case open, connected to a signal generator, and then you go round the likely spots with the O-scope until you find the offending region resulting in the lack of gain, and then zero in on the culprit component.
It is a waste of time trying to solve this without bench work. Lastly even increasing the gain does not make that channel sound right, so there are issues other than just gain.

You're painting a bleak picture, TLS, when this could be as simple as going into settings menu to see where zone 1 mains balance is set. I suspect the OP has not done that, perhaps, does not know how to do that.

 

[lovinthehd]

You're painting a bleak picture, TLS, when this could be as simple as going into settings menu to see where zone 1 mains balance is set. I suspect the OP has not done that, perhaps, does not know how to do that.

Read post 4

 

[TLS Guy]

Read post 4

Yes, the information in post 4 led me to conclude that this was almost certainly a hardware/circuit problem.