tiny noise difference between L and R channel

[Dahn626]

Hi everyone,

I ran a search about my issue and it looks like people have had a LARGE discrepancy between their L and R channel volumes. My issue is that there is a tiny discrepancy between the L and R channel volumes.

I first noticed it when trying my CIEMs with the amp at very low volumes. I was playing Valerie by Amy Winehouse and it kept sounding like her voice was on the right side. I turned the volume down and voila, the left comes alive a little after i turn the volume knob.

My headphones (HD 6xx) don't pick it up as strongly, but when i do a L and R channel comparison, the R is clearly a tiny bit louder over the L channel.

Any suggestions? Should I just go and re-solder every connection to make sure I don't have any cold joints? And is it possible that it's a speedball issue? Because if it is...not sure how I'm going to resolder items on that board...since I have no idea how to "take it off" because of the solder that's already been done to it.

[fullheadofnothing]

This is a frequently asked question. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found in the Crack Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) thread.

[Dahn626]

3.  I can barely turn my Crack up at all before it's far too loud, what do I do?

Disconnect the white wire at the pot that originated at the left RCA jack.  Install a 75K resistor between this wire and where it connected on the pot. 
Repeat this step for the red wire coming from the right RCA jack.
Attach and solder one 33K resistor between each outer pair of lugs on each level of the volume pot and the ground lugs on the pot.
Resistor wattage is unimportant, 1/10 Watt or greater will work nicely.

See the photo at the end of this post for how these resistors are attached to the pot.


Had a couple questions I wanted to clarify:

1. Would these 33k ohm resistors work? (Sorry, I know NOTHING about electronics. I know 1/4 > 1/10, but wanted to make 110% sure

https://www.amazon.com/Projects-10EP51233K0-33k-Resistors-Pack/dp/B0185FKGT6/ref=sr_1_4?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1514478494&sr=1-4&keywords=33k+ohm+resistor

2. Would these 75k ohm resistors work? (I know 1/2 > 1/10, just echoing my own naivety above). https://www.amazon.com/Uxcell-a14051200ux0717-Flameproof-Resistor-Assortment/dp/B016ZSXFIE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1514478673&sr=8-3&keywords=75k+ohm+resistor

3. "Attach and solder one 33K resistor between each outer pair of lugs on each level of the volume pot and the ground lugs on the pot." These instructions aren't clear and the picture doesn't do it that much justice. Do I have to remove the 2.49k ohm resistors that are currently attached to the upper 2 levels of the volume pot? And is the "ground" just the bottom level of the volume pot? Do I just solder one onto the bottom around the black wire that's sitting there?



Thank you for your help!!!

[Dahn626]

Bump - can anyone provide any help please?

[fullheadofnothing]

The picture will make a lot more sense if you compare it to your volume pot rather than the headphone jack…

[Dahn626]

YES!! Makes much more sense now!!! It's a miracle I got my crack working as well as I did....

Still wanted to see if those resistors are OK though...sorry I know next to nothing about electronics.

[Paul Birkeland]

Those resistors are OK, but extremely expensive.  Mouser has plenty of 10 cent options that will work nicely.