Preamp inverts phase question:

I didn't read my Cary Audio SLP98 manual when I first got it, and thought the sound was muddy and diffuse. But I thought it was just a break in symptom. When I read the manual and switched the speaker cables: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Dopogue: I get the point about recording, but we can't do anything about what's already done, so why worry.
We can control the way are gear is hooked up though, that's the point and what the OP was asking about.

Why argue the point? Just do what the manual says. What's so difficult about that?

Why argue the point? Just do what the manual says. What's so difficult about that?

Because all the manual can tell you is if that particular component inverts. But what counts is that the system as a whole should not invert, which as has been explained means that the total number of inverting components and inverted connections should be an even number (0 or 2 or 4).

As to "why argue the point," that was exactly what I was getting at in one of my earlier posts. Just get the overall system polarity correct (i.e., non-inverting), and then you don't have to worry about whether or not it makes a difference.

Regards,
-- Al

Anyone interested in facts? There are some interesting points(re: Absolute Polarity) 1/3 down on this page (http://www.stereophile.com/asweseeit/988awsi/index1.html) The book mentioned: (http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ394637) is no longer cheap by any stretch of the imagination(I wonder why?). Some observations on the book, the "Effect" and their affect on the audio industry: (http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue31/wood.htm) The Stereophile test CD(STPH 002-2) and 'Chesky Jazz Sampler and Audiophile Test Compact Disc Vol 1'(JD37) both have tests that will tell you if you can discern one polarity from another(obviously- some can't). It should also be mentioned that many recordings are produced out of phase, when being recorded: many engineers don't pay any attention to the relative phase of mics and instrument inputs(so there will be some in and some out of phase on the same recording), and there are many pieces of audio gear that invert phase(and don't mention it in the manual), and if the drivers in your speaker system aren't time-aligned/phase-coherent, even if you CAN hear the difference: You won't! Quite a crap shoot out there! More? (http://www.avguide.com/forums/how-listen-all-laser-read-media-correctly)