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Balance Control

ok...not sure what category to start this in so....here it goes.

i know balance control options are not widely available, at least from what I have seen.  However, with volume loss and damage to my right ear, I am looking for a way to adjust, offset, some of that loss.

To keep what i have simple and relevant, I run a Hegel 190v, a few years old, newer model.  Monitor silver series speakers and an Audeze MM-500 headphones.  Also run a pair of Lokius - table and cd

Of note, I like the Hegel, but not sure it is the absolute best  to pair with the Silvers or vica-versa...so these might or could change over time, in no rush as happy enough and the EQ takes edges off when needed.

75% of the time i am using the headphones.  No dedicated listening room and a lot of later night listening....plus i like it.

So, looking for the collective wisdom of this place to give me possible solutions, options, possibilities, recommended units and such.  I have come up with either replacing the Hegel with a unit with balance control - or with a unit with separate left and right channel volume control - or since i listen mostly to headphones, a headphone amp that can do the same..and just suck it up for now on the speakers.  However, not sure about so much as to what is out there.

This is not something i need to do immediate but looking to map a plan so to speak. Gather input. Trying to avoid doing one thing only to change to another. 

I truly appreciate any input as reading this forum has help over the years.
 

kinglek
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
6,181 posts
 

Check out Luxman. All of their integrated amps have a balance control!

https://www.luxman.com/

hasmarto's avatar
hasmarto
252 posts
 

I don't represent the collective wisdom of this place, but based on my experience, I would recommend a good integrated (unless you want to go separates), something like an Accuphase or Luxman. Once you have something with balance control, you'll understand what you're missing. I have four preamps, and three of them have balance control, and three of them have also have tone controls. Just love them.

 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,701 posts
 

this unit adds remote volume, balance, mute, .... to any line level sources you run thru it like your CD player .... the line out of a phono stage, or any preamp with a tape loop, or plug your preamp into it directly, and then go to your amp, however, if the headphone jack is part of the preamp, then the preamp must have it's own balance control., 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116746487231?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=a7fe6248-11cd-11f1-ac23-396639653332

 

gkelly's avatar
gkelly
987 posts
 

Use this for balance control.
https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimpro/overview

not sure of your system, so I am giving a budget recommendation. Another option it has is room correction.

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,448 posts
 

You have 3 roads here:

  1. Analog balance potentiometer. Either built-in to a new preamp/integrated, or as a separate unit. This will often be implemented by an Alps Blue-Velvet (RK27) type pot. These are OK in an absolute sense, but when I look at a $4K+ preamp that uses one if these things (they are VERY common) I think "bleh" and move on. You can hear their effect (compared to better pots), and I don’t like how they sound. I have a Rogue Hera preamp with a high quality stepped-attenuator main volume control, and an "opt-in" Alps Blue balance control. I always leave it switched OFF (bypassed) because bleh - Alps Blue, ugh! Did I mention how much I hate those RK27 pots? I have no problem  with other pots (Alps RK40, RK50, Nobel TKD), but I don’t know if there are any such good options for balance control. Also: I hate the RK27 Alps Blue pot. 
  2. Digital volume control. Many DACs and software programs have this feature built in. Some digital processors, like Audiophilleo 1, had this as a nice option. Even some high quality analog tube preamps use a digital IC volume chip with this option. ARC Reference and (IIRC) Rogue RP-series preamps are 2 great example here. When I had the ARC Reference 6, its balance control was truly excellent. I also had an RP-9, and though I can’t quite remember (for some reason - put down the booze past me), I think it has a balance control that was also quite good. Meridian preamp/DACs (808i series) and processors (818 series) also have very good digital attenuation with very good L/R control. Most 808 and 818 also have high quality analog inputs (it’s converted to digital, but at very high quality) if you wanted to route everything through them. It might be sacrilegious to convert a vinyl source to digital (and then back to analog again), but when I tried this with an 808v5, it was surprisingly close to transparent (not 100% though).
  3. Insert a 2-knob dual-mono stepped attenuator control unit (i.e. you can control L and R attenuation independently). You can either use this as your "main" preamp or in addition to your actual preamp. A high quality S.A. is transparent enough that it’s OK to use in addition to a traditional preamp. You will have to run an extra set of ICs. And only 24 steps is obnoxious, so I’d recommend 48 steps or more. Goldpoint and Khozmo (Poland) look like nice options here, for a reasonable price. You can really kit out a custom Khozmo to your specs, and they have remote-control options. Every few months I think to myself that I could use one of those Khozmos; it’s a wonder I haven’t ordered one yet. Little channel imbalances drive me crazy!

What I'd REALLY like, ideally, is an RK50 pot (that's the big expensive one) with motorized remote control (just like VAC implements in their Master and Statement preamps) AND magically with the split-dial like Stax used to do for their headphone amps. One rotation adjusts main volume, and the other affects L/R balance - while riding atop the main level. 

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