Cable Quandary

The better your system is, the more aware of imaging.

I have many times had a shift caused by an interconnect being slightly moved, perhaps inadventently while doing something else. I like XLR connectors that lock, and I changed all my RCA to locking RCA connectors and Audio Classics replaced all my RCA jacks with new gold plated ones on my mx110z preamp (the factory jacks were both easily corroded, and slightly undersized).

Speaker wire connectors can mysteriously loosen, in my case I have my very heavy speakers on 3 wheels, and move them infrequently, to alter toe-in if two off-center listeners, to vacuum behind them ,,,,, Serious connectors, lock washers, double check ....

I have many times recommended using a Chase RLC-1 Remote Line Controller to get remote volume for a setup like mine with a Vintage Preamp with no remote features. It also has remote balance, what a treat to refine imaging from your listening spot. A small tweak can make a large difference. 

@couger4u I’ll give you a different perspective…

Speaker placement is what affects the shift to one side. Even though your image may be centered, you could hear more information from the left or from the right. Room layout can cause that too if you have an opening on one side of the room.
Now…speaker cables, especially an upgrade that’s as drastic as stepping up to Valhalla 2, usually results in a significant sonic difference.
Sometime the difference is large enough to require changes to speaker placement. What may have happened in your case, adding a cable as detailed as valhalla 2 resolved the less than optimal (for your previous cable) speaker placement. Now the details are pouring out of the speakers and it seems more even. 
That’s my take on it. 

@audphile1 Speaker placement is what affects the shift to one side. Even though your image may be centered, you could hear more information from the left or from the right.

I am having this exact problem, perfect center image and very good soundstage, but it always seems to lacking a bit on the left channel. I do suspect it is my room.

If your wires are equal in length, you can probably chalk it up to the speaker placement and how reflected energy affects your perception. Why is Valhalla 2 different from Heimdal or Red Dawn?  It does have lower resistance than all of the other models, so you are getting a bit more free flow of current to the speakers. This would have no effect on the room reflections, so that leaves only psychological explanations, like expectation bias. 

@jasonbourne71 Wrote:

Never had any wire cause a shift in level to one side. 

I agree!

Mike