Right channel balance has to be bumped 16-20%

[Damon]

Interesting situation. Mine may not be as serious, but I think I too may have a balance issue. I've checked all the settings in the config setup, so I am certain that is not the problem. I've also changed speakers and swapped cables from side to side.

I put on a song, select balance and then stand between the speakers, with my eyes closed. I adjust the balance until it sounds centred. I do this standing between the speakers as well as farther away, and I also do it facing forward and backwards so as to account for any imbalance in my hearing. I find that I'm often in the 18% - 26% bias to the right side (facing the system). As my system is in the living room, with furniture and other tiresome niceties, I will need to move stuff around to determine if it is a room effect, rather than an electronic defect.

I haven't had much calm listening time in the last few weeks, but I hope to get some free time this weekend, and I will give it another trial. I have mentioned it to my dealer, but that was 2 months ago, and I was not certain of the situation. I know that my previous Naim systems, in exactly the same location, did not need balancing; indeed I always wondered why there was a balance control at all.

I will be interested in how this story plays out.