Preamp inverts phase question:

Benie, again, since many discs are recorded in mixed polarity and the rest are half "normal" and half "inverted," I don't think your argument holds water. On the mixed discs, the polarity setting doesn't matter ( although I have discs where I can pop the vocalist out front with one polarity setting and push him back into the mix with the other). Only a polarity switch or speaker cable switching will "fix" the others. The electronics are basically inconsequential. And the speakers -- the way they're wired internally -- are key to whether the effect is audible or not.

Better do what the manual says. Who cares if you can't hear it. I have a Cary SLP98P and if have to reverse the wires on my speakers. Why take a chance of damaging or ending the life of something earlier than necessary?

01-08-09: Polk432
Better do what the manual says. Who cares if you can't hear it. I have a Cary SLP98P and if have to reverse the wires on my speakers. Why take a chance of damaging or ending the life of something earlier than necessary?

I agree that following the manual is fairly important, but running 'out of phase' will not endanger the unit in any way. It will not damage the preamp, or shorten it's life at all. It's a sonic thing only. If you can't hear the difference, then swap the speaker cables as suggested. I have heard it on some recordings, and I wish my preamp had a phase invert switch, as I felt that useful on occasion.

Cheers,
John

Benie,

If my preamp inverts and my amp is non inverted then there is no need to correct the phase is that correct?

Adam

If my preamp inverts and my amp is non inverted then there is no need to correct the phase is that correct?

No, that is wrong, and what Benie indicated has no basis as far as I am aware.

Whether the amp and preamp are individually phase inverting or not is of no significance; what matters is the overall system response.

The idea is that the polarity of the source material should be the polarity that is fed to the speakers.

Also, I must say that I am surprised that this thread has produced so much discussion of whether or not absolute phase/polarity makes an audible difference. Just make the system polarity correct, and whether or not polarity makes an audible difference on your system with your recordings then becomes irrelevant.

If it does make a difference, your system will then be optimized for best results on those recordings on which it is likeliest to make a difference (audiophile-caliber, simply mic'd, minimally processed recordings, particularly those containing sharp percussive sounds). If it doesn't make a difference, then nothing will be lost by connecting that way. It's as simple as that.

Regards,
-- Al