Is my Ref5se malfunctioning?

[pete6737]

Tonight, I was trying out the "Masters speaker set up" using Jennifer Warnes Ballad of a Runaway Horse that I read about here on AA. While the balance was panned all the way left, I could hear music from the right speaker. Perplexed, I played around and made the observation that at volume 22 there is complete isolation balancing from far left to far right. At step 23 on the preamp, the opposite side is noticeably playing through the opposite side even though the balance control is panned in the opposite direction. As the volume increases in the panned side the opposite speaker plays and raises volume at a lower volume than the panned side, but clearly audible to offset any left or right isolation. Could other Ref5se owners please try this balance test and advise if my unit need of repair. The unit was bought new from an authorized dealer 22 months ago with now only 579 hours. I also did a test where I removed the balanced output the cable at the preamp from each side and there was no crosstalk with the XLR cables removed from each side. So I'm guessing it's coming from inside the unit.
Edit: One more test. A test cd with only a left channel track reveals that when panned all the way right, I still have music. So, it appears the hard left and right balance does not turn off the side entirely. Thanks for your help, Pete

[paul1]

That's not good!!!

[cleeds]

I just checked and my ARC Ref5SE does not do this. When either channel is panned all the way to one side, the opposite channel is silent.

[paul1]

Ohhh looks like a trip to the dealer your thinking shit I don't need this I can tell!!!

[The Lost Bears]

My Ref5SE does not do this either. The other channel is silent when panned all the way.

[Dafos]

Probably an easy fix, just a replacement of the volume control chip

[pete6737]

Thanks all! It's weird that at step 23 and higher on the volume that the music is heard on the opposite side. My dealer has not encountered this. It may be time to send it in. I have a message in with ARC tech support. I'll see what I'm told when I get called back. Thanks Pete

[Alki]

I am not totally convinced there is an issue here. Owned ARC preamps for many years and have had this happen when tested at higher volumes. Also I have seen where when in mute mode you turn the volume up real loud and you will get some bleed. This has no effect on the the sound under normal use and it is not a realistic situation that you would ever use.

In the past ARC had suggested to my dealer that it is not totally unreasonable to have this happen.

All that being said let me know the response you receive.

[pete6737]

Originally Posted by Alki

I am not totally convinced there is an issue here. Owned ARC preamps for many years and have had this happen when tested at higher volumes. Also I have seen where when in mute mode you turn the volume up real loud and you will get some bleed. This has no effect on the the sound under normal use and it is not a realistic situation that you would ever use. In the past ARC had suggested to my dealer that it is not totally unreasonable to have this happen. All that being said let me know the response you receive.

Thank you for your reply. Your post did remind me that I read about that issue somewhere on this forum. I'm not sure how important this is either since it will only happen when the balance is panned far left or far right and the volume is above step 23, which is not a normal operating situation, as you stated. I will post the response from ARC when I get it. Thank you, Pete

[Alki]

Originally Posted by pete6737

Thank you for your reply. Your post did remind me that I read about that issue somewhere on this forum. I'm not sure how important this is either since it will only happen when the balance is panned far left or far right and the volume is above step 23, which is not a normal operating situation, as you stated. I will post the response from ARC when I get it. Thank you, Pete

Just tried my current pre. When the balance is panned completely to one side there is bleed to the other speaker. Ironically it is static when panning the balance back until I get to 23 then the volume increases. Also left the balance at center and muted the pre; when the volume is increased substantially it is not totally silenced.

Under normal operating conditions the sound is flawless.