Getting back to the unequal meters bit, I have for several years noticed that on my tape deck (yes, I still have one ;) the left channel meter is a little higher than the right 85% of the time. On the Mc, the left was higher 85% of the time too. I asked a buddy in the recording industry and he said that he was told the left channel is recorded higher than the right as part of the stereophonic effect. Don't know if this is true but in my experience, that sounds like a decent enough reason for so many recordings to be made that way. I am glad I have balance control! Arthur