RS-1 Channel Imbalance?

[Zoide]

So I've been thinking for a long time that my hearing could be messed up in my left ear, since the sound (esp. the bass) always sounds like it's right-of-center.

But I've been doing some tests in Audacity and swapping my headphones around, and it seems that it might be the headphones. With a 1000hz tone, it seems about centered, but slightly towards the right side. With a 200hz tone, it's clearly to the right, and at 60hz it seems even more skewed.

When I put the headphones on backward, the skewing is reversed.

I also tested this straight out of my iPod, to rule out the amp and DAC. Instead of tones, I set the sound to Mono (on Rockbox) and listened to some songs. Similar results to Audacity.

Could I be mad? Could it be that my RS-1's are really imbalanced, and especially in some frequencies? They're supposed to be matched to 0.05 dB....

 

[Blitzula]

Had the exact same problem with a number of my Grados, I'd assume it's the headphones.

 

[Mercuttio]

Could be. Did you have other phones to test? If it is the RS1, call the number on Grado's website... if nobody picks up, just keep trying till you get a live person. In fact, there's a 50/50 chance that you'll get John himself. That's the fastest way to get service there, email may not get you a response as quickly.

 

[mulveling]

It's probably the 'phones. Get an SPL meter from radio shack to be sure. It's not entirely uncommon; I think the 0.05db matching specs are a joke. Around a 1.5 - 2.0 db imbalance is where it starts to become fairly noticeable. If they sound really unbalanced then it may be a 3 or 4db mismatch.

If the imbalance happens to be anywhere from 2-6db in magnitude, and IF it's fairly consistent across the frequency range, then for a temporary fix you could counteract it with some 3db or 6db attenuators on the strong channel, before the amp.

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling If the imbalance happens to be anywhere from 2-6db in magnitude, and IF it's fairly consistent across the frequency range, then for a temporary fix you could counteract it with some 3db or 6db attenuators on the strong channel, before the amp.

My opinion, a better solution would be to send them back to Grado and have them fixed.

Grado makes a big point in their sales literature that the RS-1's have closely matched drivers. I'd hold them to that standard.

I wouldn't anticipate any problem with Grado fixing them. From all accounts I've heard, they have very good customer service.

 

[mulveling]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelamvr6 My opinion, a better solution would be to send them back to Grado and have them fixed.

That should go without saying. I was giving another option in case they're out of warranty or if shipping is problematic (international), etc. Though if they really do vary by frequency then they need to be re-driver'd.

 

[purk]

Send your RS-1 in. Grado only charged me $30 bucks to repair one driver on my SR-225. The RS-1 might be more expensive, but their customer service is great.

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling That should go without saying. I was giving another option in case they're out of warranty or if shipping is problematic (international), etc. Though if they really do vary by frequency then they need to be re-driver'd.

My apologies, it seemed like you were suggesting he should live with them.

 

[Zoide]

Wow, thanks for all the help.

i'm currently abroad, but I'll be back to the US in a couple weeks. Now, there are 2 possible problems: 1) I bought the headphones used and have no receipt, 2) They are quite old (serial #365).

Do I still have a chance?

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoide Wow, thanks for all the help. i'm currently abroad, but I'll be back to the US in a couple weeks. Now, there are 2 possible problems: 1) I bought the headphones used and have no receipt, 2) They are quite old (serial #365). Do I still have a chance?

Probably out of warranty. I can't imagine though that the small 18 man/woman operation would not fix them as a non-warranty repair.

I've had email exchanges with THE man himself, so from what I can tell they do stand behind their products.

 

[Zoide]

Oh well... For now I made a convolver impulse for Foobar that lowers the right channel by 1.2 dB. It seems to work alright, though I might tweak it some more.

 

[Zoide]

Either my ears, my equipment, or my head are messed up...

Here's what I here with different test tones, using the impulse for -1.2 dB on the right channel:

60 Hz: slightly to the right
80 Hz: clearly to the right
440 Hz: centered?
2000 Hz: slightly to the left
6000 Hz: clearly to the left
8000 Hz: clearly to the right
1000 Hz: clearly to the left

 

[MaZa]

Its normal that both human ears pick different frequencies better than another (like my left ear is eeenyweeeny bit brighter then right, where right is more "bassier" extremely hard to notice), but that much imbalance isnt normal. Either your ears are messed up or your headphones. If it only occurs in that piece of headphone and not on others, its definetly the headphone.

 

[greenhorn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoide Either my ears, my equipment, or my head are messed up... Here's what I here with different test tones, using the impulse for -1.2 dB on the right channel: 60 Hz: slightly to the right 80 Hz: clearly to the right 440 Hz: centered? 2000 Hz: slightly to the left 6000 Hz: clearly to the left 8000 Hz: clearly to the right 1000 Hz: clearly to the left

If "right" becomes "left" and the other way round when you reverse the headphones, then obviously it's the headphone.

If "right" and "left" do not switch, then it's your ears.

Normally it should be your ears, the intensity of perceiving different frequencies differs from one ear to another.