How many people with asymmetric rooms use balance control to fix room?

mortron · 29th January 2013, 05:55 PM

In my room I have concluded that I've either got uneven tinnitus at 30, or I have some issues in my room. It's always biased to the left no matter what I use. I thought it was my amp but believe its just the room. No matter how I rotate the layout though, it's always at the left channel that's loudest. I just attenuate my inputs to gain an optimal balanced image left to right.

How many of you use this to attenuate imbalances in the room? If so, do you rotate drivers like tires (because one is technically being driven harder)?

I am beginning to be thankful for the input attenuation on power amps, and previously I'd prefer they were stepped. Maybe in this case, the infinite adjustments of no stepping are a benefit though?

Face · 30th January 2013, 05:31 AM

I'd swap cables, then speakers side to side before going crazy. I have an imbalance issue in my room too, but it's fixable with room treatments.

davidsrsb · 30th January 2013, 05:56 AM

The main thing is to get the rear wall at about the same distance. The balance control is a compromise that cannot properly correct the frequency response shift if the rear reflections are very different

1audiohack · 30th January 2013, 06:23 AM

Buy a sound pressure meter, and really, have your hearing tested. Why wonder?

My living room is asymmetrical and I use signal delay to center the image, not volume.

a_tewinkel · 30th January 2013, 07:52 AM

Long ago I had a desktop set-up in which one speaker had to be further away. I used a delay to correct it, which worked far better than balance. However, if your side walls are at different distances to the left and right speaker, the best bet is probably a more directional speaker so it will 'illuminate' the wall to a lesser degree. But if you like your sound stage wide and spacious, a symmetrical geometry is a must.

ra7 · 30th January 2013, 12:37 PM

Could you guys explain how you determine the delay?

I have an asymmetrical room as well. I notice the lopsidedness if I sit close to the rear wall. Also, after some time, my brain probably acclimatizes to the sound, and then it is properly centered.

speaker dave · 30th January 2013, 02:24 PM

My system has the speakers in the left half of the room. Since the left speaker is close to the left wall I have hung an orriental rug on that wall. Because of this (I think) the balance seems to favor the right and I use about 30 degrees of balance knob shift to get an acceptable balance. I have done measurements of the speakers at that location and can't detect an electrical or speaker imbalance, so I have to assume it is the room imbalance that I am hearing.

Don't be afraid to use your balance knob.

David S.

mortron · 1st February 2013, 10:44 PM

Speakedave.... Sounds good to me when I do it, who am I to question it? I suppose I should get a friend with an SPL meter over to be certain if its still bothering me.

tvrgeek · 2nd February 2013, 10:56 AM

That my friend is why balance controls are put on amps. Use it.

Just do it by ear. If a center stage image comes from center stage, you have it.
Yes, I have an L shaped room and sure enough, I have to raise one side just a tad. Amps have tone controls too. Quite handy. I wish they still had loudness controls. They were so handy when turning it down for background music. Alas, the "purist" clut seems to have killed them.

AllenB · 2nd February 2013, 11:58 AM

I adjust balance when I need to to compensate for assymetrical furnishings or whatever, but unless this is satisfactory I think you should try treating your walls first. When the imbalance is caused by reflections I find the result isn't quite right.

Even then the imbalance can colour the sound, for example by causing a specific cancellation or resonance.

29th January 2013, 05:55 PM	#1
mortron diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Town	How many people with asymmetric rooms use balance control to fix room? In my room I have concluded that I've either got uneven tinnitus at 30, or I have some issues in my room. It's always biased to the left no matter what I use. I thought it was my amp but believe its just the room. No matter how I rotate the layout though, it's always at the left channel that's loudest. I just attenuate my inputs to gain an optimal balanced image left to right. How many of you use this to attenuate imbalances in the room? If so, do you rotate drivers like tires (because one is technically being driven harder)? I am beginning to be thankful for the input attenuation on power amps, and previously I'd prefer they were stepped. Maybe in this case, the infinite adjustments of no stepping are a benefit though?

30th January 2013, 05:31 AM	#2
Face diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2007	I'd swap cables, then speakers side to side before going crazy. I have an imbalance issue in my room too, but it's fixable with room treatments. __________________ "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche

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30th January 2013, 05:56 AM	#3
davidsrsb diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kuala Lumpur	The main thing is to get the rear wall at about the same distance. The balance control is a compromise that cannot properly correct the frequency response shift if the rear reflections are very different

30th January 2013, 06:23 AM	#4
1audiohack diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Las Vegas Nevada	Buy a sound pressure meter, and really, have your hearing tested. Why wonder? My living room is asymmetrical and I use signal delay to center the image, not volume.

30th January 2013, 07:52 AM	#5
a_tewinkel diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Enschede, Overijssel	Long ago I had a desktop set-up in which one speaker had to be further away. I used a delay to correct it, which worked far better than balance. However, if your side walls are at different distances to the left and right speaker, the best bet is probably a more directional speaker so it will 'illuminate' the wall to a lesser degree. But if you like your sound stage wide and spacious, a symmetrical geometry is a must.

30th January 2013, 12:37 PM	#6
ra7 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Blog Entries: 1	Could you guys explain how you determine the delay? I have an asymmetrical room as well. I notice the lopsidedness if I sit close to the rear wall. Also, after some time, my brain probably acclimatizes to the sound, and then it is properly centered.

30th January 2013, 02:24 PM	#7
speaker dave diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto	My system has the speakers in the left half of the room. Since the left speaker is close to the left wall I have hung an orriental rug on that wall. Because of this (I think) the balance seems to favor the right and I use about 30 degrees of balance knob shift to get an acceptable balance. I have done measurements of the speakers at that location and can't detect an electrical or speaker imbalance, so I have to assume it is the room imbalance that I am hearing. Don't be afraid to use your balance knob. David S.

1st February 2013, 10:44 PM	#8
mortron diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Town	Speakedave.... Sounds good to me when I do it, who am I to question it? I suppose I should get a friend with an SPL meter over to be certain if its still bothering me.

2nd February 2013, 10:56 AM	#9
tvrgeek diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Md	That my friend is why balance controls are put on amps. Use it. Just do it by ear. If a center stage image comes from center stage, you have it. Yes, I have an L shaped room and sure enough, I have to raise one side just a tad. Amps have tone controls too. Quite handy. I wish they still had loudness controls. They were so handy when turning it down for background music. Alas, the "purist" clut seems to have killed them.

2nd February 2013, 11:58 AM	#10
AllenB diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2008	I adjust balance when I need to to compensate for assymetrical furnishings or whatever, but unless this is satisfactory I think you should try treating your walls first. When the imbalance is caused by reflections I find the result isn't quite right. Even then the imbalance can colour the sound, for example by causing a specific cancellation or resonance.