Audio Output on iMac Totally Wrong

I have a 27" October 2012 iMac, and the external audio is a complete nightmare.
I have a pair or professional studio speakers, which i want to play my iTunes through. Not a big ask.
I have connected them via the 3.5mm Jack.
My problem is:
The left channel comes out of the right speaker.
One of the speakers (true left) is very quiet.
Sound quality is appalling.
I am very experianced in audio, so have checked and double checked all of my moves. I have also had a friend check them incase i was going mad! Everything (wiring-wise) is correct. I have checked them with my iPod and also a seperates system i have, with no problems.
Is this an iMac issue, Mountain Lion issue or have i just got very unlucky and got a faulty iMac?
Urgent response or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
(Been using Macs for 15 years, but very disappointed with this iMac so far, everything i have done has been a problem.)

Cheers for this. I went into the Midi prefs and messed about, tried to balance it out a bit. Got to say the sound quality, although now better balanced, is terrible. I know these monitors to be top drawer, but the sound i am getting is probably worse than the internal speakers!
Quite worryingly, i have also been told by another that they had to return it to Apple to replace the logic board!!!
Ive never heard of anything like this with an Apple product, so shocked and quite worried.
Is there any other suggestions, or do i have to accept that Apple are not as good as they used to be?

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Hi Kl2999
Welcome to Apple Discussions
Have a look at the > [iMac Audio System Audio Developer Notes|http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Conceptual/HWTechAudio/Articles/Audio_implementation.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40003978-SW281200331167]
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Godly19 wrote:
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Hello!
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Message was edited by: the_wine_snob - Added PS

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On iMac 2011 stopped working audio output.
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2. Run Software Update and make sure you have a fully up-to-date installation of OS X.
3. If you've installed an application called "Memory Clean" or any other third-party software that is supposed to "clean" or "purge" memory automatically, remove it according to the developer's instructions and restart. You should do that even if the software is not causing the problem, because it's useless.
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8. Disconnect all wired peripherals except keyboard and mouse, if applicable. If more than one display is connected, disconnect all extra ones. Restart and test.
9. If you have a MacBook Air, turn off Bluetooth and restart.
10. Start up in safe mode. Don't log in; just restart as usual when the login screen appears. When you do, make sure the words "Safe Boot" do not appear in the login screen. If they do, the system is still in safe mode and sound won't work.
11. Reset the NVRAM.
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I was wondering if someone who already has audio+video output through the mini displayport set up can be so kind and answer the following questions for me:
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Anyone?
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