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Balance Knobs- who actually use it?

ChefE

ChefE

Active Member
My stereo receiver has a balance knob. That one has a balance slider. That one has a dial.
Do I use them? No.
Yes. Sometimes I use 'balance' control to test each side for sound. Then it goes back to the middle position for the remainder of its life without use. It's not like today I'll just play the left just because I can and tell the right "your not on right, ha ha."
Who actually use in their system the balance control aside it's integral function?
Just curious.
 
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Channel balance is extremely important to imaging and good sound. In theory the balance control should be a useful thing, but I never use it, save for testing like you. If the balance is off, there's something wrong with the receiver or amp, connections, speakers or room. I'll go fix whatever the fundamental problem is, if I can, before resorting to the balance control.
 
Ironically the only time I ever used one other than for the quick "post speaker hookup channel check", was because the balance pot itself was faulty/unbalanced.
 
Yeah, I use it sometimes. If the sound all seems biased too far to one side or the other I'll adjust.

I would say that I disagree with the assessment that it's a hard and fast rule that if balance is off that it's an indicator of something wrong with the equipment or room. It --could-- be that .....OTOH.... there are other factors to consider.

In my case ~90+% of what I listen to sounds correct with the balance centered, the remainder needs adjustment. To me that indicates differences in program material, not faults with my system.
 
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I use it in my bedroom system (SX-950 & Ohm Walsh2) due to the fact that my listening position in the bed is off to one side and my wife - on the other side - couldn't care less.
 
My main listening preamp that I currently use doesn't have any blance control. My main amp on that set up doesn't have any knobs at all.
 
I prefer to use the level controls on the power amplifier for minor balance adjustment and leave the balance knob on the preamp in the center position. I don't know why, but it is what I do..
 
Like 4-2-7 in my car, I'm glad I'm not the only picky one who needs to get everything nice and "Centred".

Fire all that sound towards the pilots seat.
 
Only when I want to play along with Live At Leeds; Recorded with bass and drums on one side,guitar and vocals on the other:)
 
My yamaha needs a recap and probably some deoxit so currently I have to cheat with the balance knob to one side to get actual
balance.
 
If one is fortunate enough to have their listening position exactly in the center between two speakers then a balance knob is not needed. If reality dictates ones listening position not be equidistant from both speakers, the a balance knob can be very useful.
 
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