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Full Version: Gold Stereo - Disturbed Stereo Image - One louder than the other?
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Hi and happy Eastern everyone!

I am currently running a stereo setup with two Golds built in different years. However, one of both is louder than the other and hence centering is almost impossible. Anyone experienced the same issue?

Facts:
  • 1x Gold with serial number M48XX (M = built in 2019, 48 = in week 48)
  • 1x Gold with serial number L10XX (L = built in 2018, 10 = in week 10)
  • The older Gold (L10XX) is getting way! hotter when playing music compared to the newer Gold (M48XX) which stays quite cool. So I assume there must be some physical difference between both speakers.
  • I have already been using the older Gold (L10XX) for roughly 1.5 years while the newer Gold (M48XX) is just about two weeks old. However, I have not been using the older Gold very often.
  • Both run on firmware 2.9.0
  • Room is symmetric, speakers are set up symmetrically in the room (measured)
  • I am sitting in the measured listening center.
Issue:
  • The newer Gold (M48XX) is clearly dominant in the stereo image. It seems to play louder, hence centering is almost impossible. However, I am not sure if the volume is the (only) reason for the disturbed stereo image.
What I did:
  • I marked the exact positions of the speakers in the room and switched the speakers. The stereo image was always distorted towards the newer Gold (M48XX). So the dominant side switched with the speaker. (When I did, I also switched the left and right channel in the app to ensure all parameters remained the same).
  • I tried different positions of the speakers in the room, although they were set up perfectly symmetrical.
  • I asked my brother to blind check several times which site is dominant and he always detected the newer Gold (M48XX) without doubts. I wanted to make sure I didn’t bluster into this perception although it was very! obvious to me.
  • I set up my old Canton speakers on the same position as the Golds and I am able to center the same music very easily.
  • I used music I know very well and of which I also know which instruments, voices, etc should sound centred.
Did anyone of you experience a similar issue?

Thanks a lot in advance for your input!
Interesting - I also have an old (J) and new (M) and do think it sounds a bit off centre sometimes
Thanks for your input.
I think in this case you don't experience the same issue I do.
In my case it is clearly always off centre - not only by few cm but rather by more than 1m.
Did you experience any heat difference between both of your speakers when you use them?

I visualized the issue in the attachement. 
Since the newer Gold (M48XX) is louder(?!) the ideal positon is much closer to the older Gold (L10XX).
However, the "perceived ideal centered listening spot" is far from ideal. It's just the best that can be done with the setup of these two specific Golds.
This happens for me sometimes, but is usually fixed with a simple restart and reset of the speakers.
Well I just haven’t spent too much time worrying about it or testing with tracks I know vocals should be dead centre, but definitely it sounds obviously off balance a lot of the time Smile

Do you have some example tracks that should have dead centre vocals or other? I can check it out and it see if it leans towards new or old speaker....
@kg.fredrik.klein:
Good to hear I am not alone!
I already restarted and reset (3 pushes on the rear button) the speakers many times. In my case it didn't resolve the issue.
Did you experience any differences in the heat development of your speakers when you use them? As stated above, my newer Gold always stays quite cool while my older Gold gets considerably hotter when I use them.

Edit:
@Jamington2004
You posted right in the same minute; thanks for coming back to this issue.
Take for instance 'Louis Futon - Restless Sea' or 'Mac Miller - Surf' (I hope you enjoy the music). But it doesn't stop there. Also tracks without any vocals are always distorted towards the newer Gold. Actually, the whole music experience leans towards the newer Gold, supported by the older Gold giving it some room. Even the advertisement on Spotify seems to come from one side only. When I switch speakers, the dominant side switches with the speaker (as stated above). So it is clearly dependant on the speaker.

For me this is quite a game killer. I expect vocals to be centered on speakers of this price range. I had a couple of speakers before; many of them being a lot cheaper and they still managed it to create a clear centered image of, for instance, vocals that should be centered. I would argue, this is a fundamental requirement of all hifi setups.
Cool will give it a go.
Every time I notice it I have never known / had a way to check how the track is mixed. I imagine a lot of mixes don’t have things dead centre?
But glad you posted because it is something that has bothered me - just was never sure / had the time to think how to approach it (was it my ears / my room / the mix / issue with the speakers
Have you logged a ticket with Devialet?
Will take a listen to those tracks and report back
Highly appreciated! Most tracks have centered vocals. In my case it is not even that granular: The whole music experience leans towards the newer Gold, supported by the older Gold giving it some room.
Can you notice any difference in heat development of your speakers when you use them?

(15-Apr-2020, 08:10)Jamington2004 Wrote: [ -> ]was it my ears / my room / the mix / issue with the speakers

I had the same thoughts and tried the things above to ensure it is really the speakers.

Yes, I cut a ticket to Devialet yesterday. Will keep you posted about it.
Ok so I tried Mac Miller - Surf.
If those vocals are meant to be dead centre -
they are definitely much more dominant on the new speaker.

Imagine a 6 ft equilateral triangle with me in the centre of the speakers - I have to stand almost in line with the older speaker to make the vocals sound centred.

How annoying I have been preoccupied with this off and on for ages!

I realised I can listen on my headphones to find some other tracks to see if the golds are playing off centre!

I logged a report by the way - hope they can work it out!
Found this older thread too seems it’s a known issue https://devialetchat.com/Thread-DOS2-stereo-balance

Just tried one of the suggestions on there and it worked for me

Physically unplugged both phantoms (I seem to remember this is different to switching off and on at the switch as unplugging clears all the PLC data or something?!)

Plugged back in Then 3 short clicks after they come to life and they emit another cool noise

Seems much more centred now - not sure if perfect but the fact I am having to think very hard about and considered getting my tape measure out to check I am dead centre says it all!

Let me know if it works for you Smile
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