Mine has balance plus adjustments for distance from speaker.
I also have found that slightly turning my head can do wonders.
Hearing loss and tinnitus ain't fun.
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.
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You will need a separate Phono Stage if you want to use any balance device with your existing Hegel, and then, TT, CD, Stream, you will need 3 Line Level inputs. The Chase unit would work very nicely for that. I wrote this seller, it behaves normally when plugged in, (flashing lights, power button stops flashing) I think seller is correct, it is new, best ’buy it now’ price for new I ever saw, if I didn’t have 3 already I would buy it Or, use the Hegel for amp and it’s phono like now, but get a separate Headphone Amp, downstream from a balance control you add like the Chase. The Chase has two identical line level outputs labled 'front' and 'rear', but they are identical, from the early quad idea, simply 4 speakers. You could use the Hegel's line out, fixed or variable to feed the headphone amp. |
Thank you for all the input
@mulveling - wow....not sure i digested that all, but will take time to better understand....might be a bit above me head. Others - Luxman and Accuphase will be above my price point, at least these days...maybe some time in the future. |
Now, other thought i had was replacing the Hegel with say a Parasound.integrated.....or i could go separates there with Parasound (Halo 6 pre amp and A23+ power). That would give me the balance, performance and sound quality.
Again, appreciate all the thoughts...yeah, i can find a lot online, but reviews and assessment so of gear can be very skewed. |
I have reached the point of my journey that I will not be without a balance control ever again. I lived for too many years with a pre-amp that did not provide one, and the skewing of the soundstage was an irritant that I don't want to endure again. I purchased the first version of a preamp of a very good tube manufacturer, because his subsequent preamp offerings did not have the balance control. My hearing, my room, my vintage components (older cartridges, a tuner from the early 60's, a reel-to-reel tape deck from the 70's) - none of those things are perfectly symmetrical.
One good work around is to invest in DSP - I used a DSpeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 - as they often have a balance control as part of its offerings. Plus, it will snap your bass into good shape as well...
David |
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