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AC cord polarity?? Does it matter???????

I've just noticed that from experimenting with preterminated factory builty cords that not all companies use the same polarities. Even with two stock cords, one from USA made in China and one from China made in China for USA the polarity of the cords are reversed. All my Synergistic cords are one way, my Electraglide is the other way and other cords from different manufacturers are different. The poles are reveresed from one cord to the next. Now I'm really confused to the polarisation issue as if different companies use one polarity and other companies use the reversepolarites, then it's a guess wether or not one system is in the right polarity or if just certain components are properly polaroized. It appears that in the US made cords I've noticed both direct and reverse polarity in cords. The Asian made cords are different depending on company as well. Does this then mean that polarity has no issue and it doesn't matter? Is there no right or wrong way to polarize a components ac? The cords in my system are giving half my components one direction of ac polarisation and the other half are in reverse.Perhaps it doesn't matter? I'm confused again!!!!
128x128mitchb
studio1
99 posts
 
Friend

Audio is one of those hobbies that have many empirical indicators. Things like type of solder, soldering technique, and which way a components plug is plugged in can make a difference depending on the component.
jea48
4,313 posts
 
>>"I've just noticed that from experimenting with preterminated factory builty cords that not all companies use the same polarities. Even with two stock cords, one from USA made in China and one from China made in China for USA the polarity of the cords are reversed."<<
>>>>>>>
Just one of the problems with after market power cables. Very few if any are UL listed.
http://www.marchansen.com/tn102/

Reversed AC polarity can cause noise and hum from your audio system as well as effecting it's sonics.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1014011751&openmine&zz
ceb222
15 posts
 
Yes. Depending on the resolving level of your system the individual components of your system will have different sonics depending on the orientation of the ac plugs. Experiment with each component to determine which orientation sounds best to you and mark the plug for future reference. When manufacturers make a component little consideration if any is given to plug polarity. It is of low priority to them.
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