Non inverting polarity?


Can someone explain what the difference between inverted and non-inverted polarity. What does it have to do with the # 2 or #3 pin being hot on a XLR ic.
husk01
If you are worried about inverting polarity in your system, the easiest place to fix it (if your pre doesn't have an invert polarity feature) is by changing your speaker cables... Wire + to - and - to +. Since each two polarity inversions will restore absolute polarity, you just need to correct once. Doing it at your speaker terminals is probably the least intrusive way of fixing the problem.

Then again, most people can't tell the difference. Including recording engineers, who can invert phase on recordings. Search for "woods effect" in the archives.
Jeffreybehr...I just found out that all JBL loudspeaker drivers have polarity opposite to other brands. A positive voltage applied to the + terminal causes the cone to pull in (not push out). So, if you think absolute polarity matters, and you have JBL speakers, hook them up backwards.
There are 2 issues being discussed. I think Husk was asking an electrical question about the pin-outs on XLR connectors. I vaguely remember something about not all brands being wired the same, which could cause problems mixing different brands of equipment (maybe tieing signal to ground?). Someone with specific electrical expertise needs to answer this.
The other thing being discussed is the effect of absolute polarity on sound. I never believed it mattered (i didn't know why it would). After talking to someone who was convinced otherwise, I tried it out (since my remote has a phase switch). I chose a recording, decided which phase I preferred, then looked away, and repeatedly hit the phase switch while waving the remote around, so that I had no idea which way the player was set. Then without looking, I switched back and forth until I again picked my favorite setting, which was the same as the first time. I have tried this experiment about 10 times, and have always been consistent (that is, picked the same phase blind as before), on recordings on which I thought I could tell a difference (I could tell before the experiment whether I could hear a difference or not). Many recordings I cna't hear a difference on, though, and when I can hear a difference, it is so subtle, even I wouldn't be convinced, except for the results of the blind listening tests. It is so subtle, I don't really think about it while listening. My 2cents.
Honest1...Your test method is clever, and your results interesting, although I would have to try it myself to be convinced.
"Jeffreybehr...I just found out that all JBL loudspeaker drivers have polarity opposite to other brands. A positive voltage applied to the + terminal causes the cone to pull in (not push out). So, if you think absolute polarity matters, and you have JBL speakers, hook them up backwards."

Hmm...I didn't know that.

An easy way to test your speakers is with a 9-volt battery. After disconnecting the positive speakercable lead, use jumpers from the battery to the speaker terminals to see which way the cone moves initially. If the cone moves out--ie toward the listener--when the positive (small) battery terminal is connected to the red terminal, the speaker is wired correctly. This test works well for bass and midrange drivers but is really tough to see on a tweeter because only the initial spike of the DC voltage passes the crossover. Maybe using a magnifying glass would help one see it move.
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