My left channel has less gain than my right, why?

[12.1]

Hi,
I'm running a pair of B&W 685s with a NAD 319 stereo amp, and I've recently noticed that the left channel (speaker) has less gain than the right. I have to have the balance dial set at 9 o'clock (a quarter left) in order to keep the sound central. Does any one know why this might be or how to fix it??- I'm also pretty sure it wasn't like this when I first brought the set up.

Thanks

 

[Nestor]

Some suggestions:

Did this suddenly occur? Did you make any changes? Does it do this with all sources?

Try swapping L and R speakers and see if the problem goes to the right channel. If it does, you may have a blown tweeter.

 

[Pyrrho]

You need to do a few little tests to narrow down where the problem is located, as Nestor already stated.

Does it do this with all sources? If not, then it is not a problem with the power amplifier or the speakers, though it could be in a source, a connection, or the preamplifier.

If it does it with all sources, then you should try switching the speakers for each other, as Nestor suggests. If the problem then switches sides, the problem is with a speaker. If the problem does not switch sides, then the problem is not a speaker, but could be either a power amplifier or preamplifier.

And yes, I know, you have an integrated amplifier. That means the power amplifier and preamplifier are in the same box, and one still reasons as mentioned above.

Another thing to do, when everything is off, is to disconnect and reconnect everything, on the off chance that it is a poor connection with one of your wires. You are probably hoping it will be something free like that, instead of a damaged speaker or amplifier.

Please let us know the results of trying these various things.

 

[12.1]

fixed!

Hi,

I tried swapping the speakers over like you suggested and thankfully everything seems fine now (swapped back). So it probably was a connection problem. I know its not great but I havn't put proper connectors on the ends of my wires yet as don't have a soldering iron, so its just the bare copper which might have eroded slightly :/ anyway I hope to do so soon,

thanks both of you for the help!

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi,

I tried swapping the speakers over like you suggested and thankfully everything seems fine now (swapped back). So it probably was a connection problem. I know its not great but I havn't put proper connectors on the ends of my wires yet as don't have a soldering iron, so its just the bare copper which might have eroded slightly :/ anyway I hope to do so soon,

thanks both of you for the help!

More likely, it is that the connection became loose over time, rather than that there was corrosion. You might want to periodically make sure that the connections are tight on the bare wire. (Obviously, you don't want to over-tighten things such that you damage them, but they should be fairly tight in order to make a good connection.)

Anyway, it is good when the fix is easy and free.