So my battle weary pair of headphones gave up the ghost and I had to buy a new one.

The new one is better. Everything sounds clearer, including an old suspicion of mine: the headphone/monitor output on my audio interface is quite noticeably louder on the left channel! That always "kind of" bugged me, but now it's too clear and uncomfortable.

I suppose there is nothing I can do but replace the interface... Is there?

Always thought the same thing about my interface until I had my hearing tested. Its not the interface, its me. Definitely some hearing loss in my left ear. Ain't getting old fun?!!

That thought occurred to me, but connecting the headphones to the computer's onboard sound card or my tablet disproves that theory.

What is the interface device?
Does it have a master balance somewhere that could have been altered at some point in time and be the root cause?

It's pretty easy to do on some interfaces ..
others it's buried a little deeper in the menus and harder to find
for some it just doesn't exist.

Lexicon Omega.
http://lexiconpro.com/en/products/omega

Sadly, no balance control. Sometimes, I can reduce the problem by jiggling the volume knob slightly.

The pots are really bad on this interface. I've seen complaints about them elsewhere.

Yeah, the POTS affecting the output could definitely be a factor.

Tried cleaning them?

Reverse the cans on your head and confirm it.

So, does the interface have a software control panel? Many do and there are input and balance controls in there as well as EQ and other things.

Be sure it's not something like that.

Also look at the DAW you use and be sure you have things centered and balanced.

I'd wager it's a software or setting in the DAW on how you mix. If the other cans didn't show it to be louder on the left, that could have been done by you without knowing it. You had a deficiency in the cans and to compensate you turned one side up more in the recording process.

It could be a lot of things besides the interface being left biased.

I don't know how to clean them. I don't believe they will come off.


Yes, confirmed.


No. Just drivers.


I've connected these headphones directly to the computer's onboard sound card and to a tablet, and they sound unbiased.

This is from the website:

A REAL MIXER

Unlike standard computer I/O boxes based on a patch bay concept, the Lexicon Omega Studio is designed and built around the same paradigm as large-format recording consoles. An 8-input, 4-Bus, 2-output USB I/O mixer with inserts, instrument input, MIDI I/O and complete metering and monitoring functions gives you the freedom to record up to 4 tracks at once and mix without the need for additional mixing hardware.

This is what we're talking about. Play with the mixer and check the levels and balance. If that's ok then open up Cubase or whatever DAW you're using and check that balance as well.

Bob

The problem with that approach is that the interface puts bias on the headphone output, which will be passed on (in reverse) to the recording if I try to "fix" it.

First and easiest test to clean them is to twist it back and forth a bunch.

Just spin it left/right a bunch, then reset.
Do this for Pan, Gain, whatever dials may be affecting the signal.

If 'dirty' is heard or noticed a spray cleaner may be in order, along with some more twisting back and forth.
But I'd start with twisting each dial back and forth a few times and then returning to original position, and checking.. Have the speakers/headphones on at the time so you can hear if one of them is getting dirty (you'll hear it when you turn it).

+1.


http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f



Regards,

Bob

Yup, before I gave up my last mixer if I had a knob that would start to get noisy I sprayed cleaner on it and turn it up and down about 100 times until the noise went away.

Open your Windows audio settings and check the balance for all your playback settings. Typically you can get to these settings by clicking on the speaker icon in the bottom, right corner of your screen or through control panel.

Yup exactly. When you installed the software, it's very possible the mixer/control panel also installed but you didn't notice it because if it's like mine, it didn't create a desktop icon.

Look in the start menu and check for a folder named for the interface or something very similar. Open it and look to see if there's an executable in there. That's where my control panel was hiding. You can create a desktop icon from there.

I understand that you are saying only the headphone output is out of balance with the left side being more dominate? correct.

So, if you compensate the headphone imbalance by adjusting the mic/line LR balance, then the recorded balance (which is correct and only becomes imbalanced by you manually adjusting the pan knobs)?

If the above is true, that indicates the problem is isolated to the headphone circuitry. There is likely an internal bias adjustment that would take any TV/CB type repair shop longer to get access taking the case apart than to repair. Likely cost if that's all they find wrong will be their minimum bench charge. Certainly cheaper than replacement cost.

Just speculation on my part taken from the information listed here on the forum post but I'd suggest getting an electronics technician to look at it before disposing of it.

Charlie

Have you tried cleaning the headphone output jack?

Many replies here. Many, many thanks. I really appreciate it.


Interesting idea, but it didn't work in this case. I could only find two folders: one contains executables to uninstall and reinstall, the other contains two DLL files. I don't think this interface has any kind of software based control panel.


That doesn't help either. I don't have the problem when using the internal sound card, I just have it when I use the USB interface.



That makes sense and sounds like the best lead. I will have to go out and see if I can find that spray cleaner, and give it a try. I'm just unsure about it because the knobs won't come off and they don't look like they will allow any liquid to get into their shaft wells easily enough. But I will try.


No, I haven't, and I've never heard about that. How does one clean an output jack? Is there some particularly appropriate brush or swab for that kind of job?


I hope you're wrong, but you could be right. I will try the cleaning first before I resort to... uh... surgery.

Try cleaning the pots without the cleaner first. Dry. Rotate each pot 100X's from left to right, sometimes pots are “sealed” and won't benefit from lube, but rotation will spread the internal lube around the pot.


For the 1/8 jack, just plug the plug in and out of the jack multiple times. Lube will work here: spray some lube on the plug and work it in and out of the jack.


Deoxit is the best I've found:


https://www.amazon.com/D5S-6-DeoxIT-Spray-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B071DZVYSC


Regards,


Bob

Isopropyl Alcohol 90% will also work to clean post and jacks. Foam tipped swabs are preferred over cotton tipped Q-tip swabs.


Charlie

In addition to the above, did you check Windows balance settings? (Apologies if this has already been mentioned, I only glanced through the above posts and did not read them thoroughly.)

1. Right click on the speaker icon (#1 on image below).

2. Select "Playback devices" (#2).

3. Double-click on "Speakers" (#3).

4. Select "Balance" and check that the left and right settings are equally balanced (#4).

Regards,
Noel

So far everyone has given you some sort of useful advice.

We have all lost our sense of humor...

So here's some totally useless advice.

If it leans left.... I would suggest some sort of wedge, perhaps a piece of cardboard or two under the left side to kind of even it out a bit and make it level. No one likes to look at a leaning interface.