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.
@elliottbnewcombjr They have 3in/2out design too. You could mix rca and xlr as well. The thing is this design does not come with remote. Attenuators seems limited to 48 steps only. https://khozmo.com/product/dualmono-with-input-selector-rca-or-xlr/ Nevertheless, for the other 1in/2out design, you might want to contact them to see if they could customize it as 2in/1out, add a switch in the back for input selection... You never know. |
Khozmo certainly appear and I imagine would feel superior, the Chase does not come off as cheap, but not special, clever might be it's best adjective. however, remote balance from your listening position, that is special, I am spoiled and have one in 3 systems. my friends who have gotten them agree, damn thing does it's job undetectably. my best use is adding all the remote features to my non-remote but otherwise full featured Vintage McIntosh mx110z Tube Tuner/Preamp. |
@elliottbnewcombjr just a quick update - the unit has arrive...it could be a week to three or four before i have time to sit with it....much outdoor stuff this time of year to do as i grow a good bit. But it looks great...look forward to the time to get it up and running.....maybe some rainy spring days ahead. And will update then again...let ya know what i think. |
OP, I happened to demo remote balance for a friend yesterday afternoon, put him in the middle, adjusted my toe-in for single centered listener: played my AT160ml cartridge which has both wide channel separation and tight channel balance, MicroLine on Gold Plated Beryllium cantilever, my current favorite cartridge. It also sounds real good. An LP he brought that he was very familiar with. It was another compilation, two LPs. Tracks from different recording sessions, different engineers making different types of decisions. Played a few tracks, he remarked as he always does how much he likes my system, and he agreed, that cartridge was prefferable to my friend’s Benz Micro Ruby Wood that I have on the rear arm. That’s 3 of us so far. Then I stood behind him, centered, played the same tracks, after just a bit of each track, all unfamiliar to me, I tweaked the balance a speck, just one or two clicks (I don’t know the increments, but you will discover, they are small) either L or R, not much, but it is surprising how everything improves when it is refined. Like how a true mono cartridge reduces noise and each instrument or voice becomes more distinct (not imaging, but clarity): When the balance of stereo is improved, the imaging, all phantom, derived from the balance and phasing (and other tricks) becomes more defined, the locations of each musician tightens, they become a band that you can hear/imagine/see where each member stands (for tracks with good/great engineering). Sometimes, like one of the tracks, it revealed that the drummer, when playing, his most frequent cymbals were often on the left side of his kit (left facing, his right) normal width of a drum set, but, when doing a solo, they moved his cymbals to the left of center, left the drums still on the right; then, back to normal after the solo. I occasionally hear this with pianos, they become too wide for reality, highs too left of center-lows too right of center, sometimes reversed. He wasn’t astounded, it’s not like that, but he definitely heard and liked the improvement to the tracks he has listened to many, many times. Last evening, another friend and I went out to dinner, then listened to only one track of an LP he brought. He just wanted to hear it on my system, compare it to his system, which plays thru my old JSE Infinite Slope Model II speakers that he has restored. It reminded us both of the Nighthawks, I have 2 of their LPs, I put on the Nighthawks Live LP, very well recorded, in a club in Maryland. You could hear that the lead guitarist was walking sideways back and forth some on the stage a bit on some tracks. No remote balance needed for the entire LP, it’s when you remark "these guys knew what they were doing". I’m very confident that Chase unit will be very beneficial given your imbalance of hearing, adjusting for you in your space, and refining tracks that need it for you.
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