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IMAGE PROBLEMS VOCALS OFF CENTER

My image is off center.
I have changed practically everything.
Swapped interconnects, cd players, placed left speaker on the right and right speaker on the left and vice versa. Switched amplifiers, power cables etc etc. The image (noticeable on vocals) is about a foot to the right of center. DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!!!! I have this gear in an architecturally sound room. It was designed by Obsession AUdio in the U.S. and it is definitely not a room issue. It is not my hearing (as first thought) because others have noticed and confirmed the problem as well. HAS ANYONE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM?
Could it be an electrical issue coming in to the house????? Is that even possible?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Randy
butterscotchmusic
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I should add that at one time a few years ago I had this same problem and a bad tube in my preamp was the culprit. I switched the tubes and the center focus shifted in mirror fashion.
reubent
6,942 posts
 
Is it possible that you are actually hearing a phase problem? Insure that your speakers are wired correctly, i.e. "red to red", "black to black" on both of your speakers. Also, it is possible that your speakers are mis-wired inside, i.e., one of the drivers is wired out of phase.

I agree with the previous poster that suggested playing a mono source. if you play something in mono and the image is not centered, you definately have a problem.

TIC
theaudiotweak
2,780 posts
 


Much to do with your room geometry. Windows and doors, more pressure, less pressure, absorbtive, reflective, reactive.Look overhead, is there a soffit on one side of the room and not the other. It should all look the same so it all sounds the same. Tom
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
If you have swapped interconnects (between source and power amp) and you have (in a separate test) swapped speakers with their respective cables (left channel to right side and right channel to left side) then you have eliminated your system as the source of the problem.

=> The only things that remain are your ears and the room!

(if your equipment was causing this the problem one of the above tests would have moved the image to the other side of center by one foot)
butterscotchmusic OP
24 posts
 
I have tried using both. The speakers are Quad 12Ls, Cayin TA 30, Also tried an Arcam Delta 90 I believe, NAD CD Player, Nordost and Audioquest speaker cables and interconnects. The image is off slightly with everything, DVD, CD, and even television broadcast. I'm lost.
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