Reversed Polarity LP Cuts - Examples?

Yanx the phase phenomenon is not just exclusive to phono - compacted disc exhibits the same issues. I've found that the phase invert button on my full function preamp sometimes improves certain cuts on an (LP or CD) by enhancing one or more of the following:
Dynamics. Bass extension & control. HF articulation. HF harshness. Vocal naturalness. Weak-ish 'washed out' sounding cuts.
That phase buton works almost like a tone control sometimes.
Note that not *all* cuts on the same LP or CD will benefit from phase inversion; some do while others don't. As Zaiks says, it's a simple matter of experimentation. Those cuts that do not benefit from inverted phase will typically, but not always, run much better when non-inveted. The 'correct' phase is typically easily determined by a brief listening sample & a few button-presses to compare subjectively.

Zaikesman, I dunno about you, but not everyone can hear the difference when the phase of a recording is reversed, at least I couldn't. There was a test CD on Chesky, can't remember which one, that had David Chesky doing some recording in and out of phase. Frankly, I hardly heard a difference. Of course YMMV.

Cmk, I agree with you on that statement (obviously many folks such as Bob may take some exception), even if it seems to somewhat contradict your previous post. What it really means is that what you're hearing would likely seem largely the same to you even if your phonostage did not invert polarity. But I agree with Bob's implication that if you're not going to futz around with polarity as standard operating procedure (as I do not), then it's still probably best to just make sure your system is polarity-correct before putting the issue out of your mind. My DAC has long had a polarity-invert button, but I never end up using it. My latest preamp is the first one I've had with remote polarity control...maybe I'll start trying to experiment with this aspect more in the future and see if I get anything out of it worth the bother, at least with certain types of music and recordings.

Zaikesman, yes, one shd always get the polarity right. I too have a polarity button on my DAC, but never used it, except by accident. Which DAC do you use?

Back in the days of matrix quadraphonic, I experimented quite a bit with phase issues. If your preamp has this capability, here are some interesting things you might try.

1. Run one channel inverted all the time, and reverse the speaker wires to compensate. Since most of the music signal is common mode (same in both channels) your power amp will work better because the draw from the plus and the minus power supplies is evened out. (Dynaco specd their old Stereo120 amplifier at 60 watts per channel (with channels driven out of phase). That last part, in parentheses, was in very small print.

2. If your amp can handle the low impedance (and most will because of item 1 above) bridge the power amp with another speaker. Presto! Instant center channel with perfect phase relationship to Left and Right, differential configuration for lowered distortion, zero cost for amplification, and having twice the power as appropriate for the center (common mode) signal.

3. You can achieve perfect Left/Right channel balance (very important for matrix multichannel) by puting the phase back to normal, playing a Monaural signal like FM interchannel noise, and listening for a null (silence) from the bridged center speaker (or earphones). In my case, in addition to adjusting the Balance control, I needed to touch up the Tone controls to get a perfect null.

There is lots more fun to be had fooling around with phase. Enjoy.