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Stereophile test CD2 In/Out of Phase test:question

Hi
I just noticed that on Stereophile Test CD2,on the second track that shows in-phase and out of phase recording ,if you switch speaker wires on the amp end you will still get the test play thru your speakers as if you had a non-inverted phase.The test sounds identical not depending if you changed phase of your system or not.Please,explain why this is happening?
overhang
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Opps, you are right for compression drivers, and it will be hard to see what direction they go. I guess you could put a candle in front and see the drag on the flame.
peter_s
1,320 posts
 
In my experience I concur with Herman. You listen for the voice being between the speakers, not outside of the two speakers.
herman
2,222 posts
 
Tbg, I'm not sure what was "contrary" to your experience. I would only ask you to try it again. Play track two and see if the image is centered when he tells you it should be. If it is, reverse the cable on one speaker only and I believe it will be centered when he tells you it shouldn't be.

I tried reversing the leads on both speakers at the same time and I do believe one way was better than the other even though both were centered.

As far as using the candle. I tried that and when it sucked the flame back it caught my woofer on fire which spread to the cabinet, my carpet , and resulted in about $50,000 in damage. Please PayPal that amount to me ASAP.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Herman, I have checked seven test records and cds that I have, and you are right, they all suggest reversing leads on one speaker. I guess this is why I have always concluded that at least for the test record or cd, that my system is in absolute phase. I must admit that I wonder why such trivial information is so often provided. I do have one, however, that plays three cuts both in absolute absolute phase and out.

There is a vagueness of the image on some recording when they are out of polarity.

I cannot be held responsible for your listening too loudly. If you had polarity right, it would have blown out the candle at your volume level. Remember this if you ever have another fire in your listen room.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Tbg... JBL LF drivers are also phased backwards from the rest of the world. I actually experienced this when wiring up some 15" JBL subwoofers together with some 12" subwoofer drivers of a different brand, and thought that I had screwed up the wiring at the driver inside the enclosure. They went opposite ways. Subsequently I read about it.
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