82 low-volume balance problem...

Posted by: mattbr on 19 February 2004

Hi,
I've got an 82/hicap/250 whose volume is massively louder at low volumes on the left channel. tried swapping the speaker cables, louder volume on the right. The balance just seems to be "floating", where it'll be wildly to the left at low volumes, and then creep up on the right. of course, correcting it a low volumes will mess things up at anything higher.
is this a known issue with that generation of gear, or is it time for some tender loving care from Salisbury ?
Posted on: 19 February 2004 by Mike Hanson
It's a problem with pretty much all Naim gear (that I've owned, at least). I'm not sure about the new range, but I've had a 72, two 102's, an 82, a 52, as well as an older 42, 42.5, and 32.5. All of these had balance problems at low volumes.

The solution is simple: get really inefficient speakers, so that you have to turn it up to louder for the low volumes. Wink

-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by Laurie Saunders
quote:
The solution is simple: get really inefficient speakers, so that you have to turn it up to louder for the low volumes.


...or attenuate the input (from your CD player?).....quite a straightforward job......make L-pads using 3 resistors per channel


Laurie S
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by J.N.
Hi Matt

I've owned the following Naim pre-amps:-

32
32.5
72
82
52
112
202
252

None of them had a volume imbalance at low levels.

The Nait 2 does; but that's a recognised problem.

The 82 has a good quality volume pot and should not be a problem. Sounds like it needs a service.

Good luck.
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by Basil
I have a 72 and a Nait 2 and both have absolutely perfect channel balance from silence up to V loud. I'd have to agree with JN.
Sounds like it needs a service.
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by Andrew L. Weekes
This often has more to do (as Mike and Laurie points out) with speaker sensitivity and source choice than anything else.

Every Naim preamp I've owned has had channel imbalance problems at low level. This is more obvious with CD (because the input levels are higher) and sensitive speakers, since both these force use at low vol. settings.

The 112 and Nait5 are the only preamps capable of maintaining very tight channel balance over the full range.

Naim have responded in the past that even post-service there's no guarantee of channel balance at very low volume settings, due to the tolerances in the pots.

Andy.
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by Andrew L. Weekes
quote:
make L-pads using 3 resistors per channel


Laurie,

Surely you mean 'T' or 'Pi' pads, L pads only need two resistors Wink

Andy.