Monitors slightly different volumes

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Frankm666

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Just got a set of Mackie 824s and hear a slight volume difference between them. Wondering is this slighty difference normal, and should I just adjust the input sensitivity knob on the back to balance them? Thanks Frank
 
There probably closer than you think and your monitoring area may have some acoustic issues that are causing that perception. Or maybe you've got a slightly bad ear. The only way to tell for sure is to do a frequency response test of each one in a hemianechoic chamber.
 
SPL confirms my hearing

Used my radio shack SPL meter and it confirmed that the right side is about .5 to 1. db louder (using a tone from one of my synth plug ins.) Then I switch cables coming out of my motu 828 the loudness switches sides. My Logic meters show the same level coming out of logic. Also a different set speakers coming out the of the built in sound out on my mac also are slihtly louder on the right side. Maybe this is nothing to worry about? I don't think it's the room because of the cable switch test, the loudness switches sides. It's very, vey subtle. Thanks for any help, Frank Military
 
It's very important that your monitors match. If they are off you will always be compensating for that when you mix. Even a small amount of difference can affect how you pan things.

I think you need to call up the dealer where you got them and explain the problem. The monitors *must* match, or they are close to being useless. So maybe you can send them back and get another pair.
 
Frankm666 said:
Used my radio shack SPL meter and it confirmed that the right side is about .5 to 1. db louder (using a tone from one of my synth plug ins.) Then I switch cables coming out of my motu 828 the loudness switches sides. My Logic meters show the same level coming out of logic. Also a different set speakers coming out the of the built in sound out on my mac also are slihtly louder on the right side. Maybe this is nothing to worry about? I don't think it's the room because of the cable switch test, the loudness switches sides. It's very, vey subtle. Thanks for any help, Frank Military
Click to expand...

Try moving the left monitor to the right side and the right monitor to the left side. If the difference moves with the monitors, then one is louder. If the problem doesn't move then it's your room.
 
Mackie's [url=http://www.mackie.com/products/hr824/index.html said:
website[/url]
...each unit is within 0.5dB of the rest.
Click to expand...

It would be improbable that you happened to get the two that were on the edge of that spec.
 
Frankm666 said:
Then I switch cables coming out of my motu 828 the loudness switches sides. My Logic meters show the same level coming out of logic.
Click to expand...

Well, it's not the monitors, then. The level imbalance is somewhere else.

Sound like the output from your computer might be a little off, considering you have the same problem with your computer speakers.
 
Frankm666 said:
Then I switch cables coming out of my motu 828 the loudness switches sides. My Logic meters show the same level coming out of logic.
Click to expand...

Doh! I misread that entirely! Yeah, what boingo said.
 
Boingo hit it on the head. If the problem follows the cables, then it isn't the speakers.
 
xstatic said:
Boingo hit it on the head. If the problem follows the cables, then it isn't the speakers.
Click to expand...

Yes, I missed that too. Good call Boingo.

Try replacing both cables, and also check the entire signal chain from the DAW to the speakers.
 
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