there is such a thing as a stereo triode…helps to know both the tube and the topology…
But
Keith will square you away.
But
Keith will square you away.
Channel Imbalance Mystery
Get a GOD**** Tube Tester! I cannot imagine loving tube sound and denying myself the ability to have confidence or find problems in active and replacement tubes. Test the tubes, short? good or bad? go from there. Have the tester for the rest of your life! Get or download the manual. It's not rocket science. I test new matched tubes when I receive them. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=tube+tester&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_... this little tester has given me confidence and found problems for over 40 years. I have a big fancy one, they always agree, I don't bother with the big one anymore, I'm gonna give it away or sell it someday when I get around to it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/165066777164?hash=item266ebf224c:g:h-IAAOSw96BhPXpQ I would take it apart, hose it's guts with contact cleaner/lube, twirl the controls this way and that, blow it dry, wait overnight for further drying, and get right to it. |
Paul, it is probably an illusion created by room acoustics and imbalances canceling each other. My system has always run 3 dB hotter on the Lt in my current room. There is an alcove on the left side wall. In preparation for a new turntable I finally completed the built in cabinet for that alcove. My left channel now runs 1 dB hotter. Now if my right channel electronics had 0.5 dB more gain switching channels like you did would cancel out the imbalance. This is what a balance control is for. Unfortunately, that imbalance is hardly ever equal across the audio spectrum so your frequency response curve is being shifted. This is where room control is very effective. For reference a 0.5 dB imbalance is just noticeable. A 1 dB imbalance is obvious. |