Preamp inverts phase question:


The owners manual of my preamp indicates that the preamp inverts phase: the circuit is phase inverting. Does this mean that I need to hook my speaker cables up backwards to correct the phase inversion... do I hook the positive speaker cable to the negative speaker binding post and visa versa with the negative speaker cable connections on both speakers?
adampeter
Will the mono setting on my preamp help me in any way to determine correct phase via listening tests?

Well, maybe a little bit, by cancelling out the stereo information and simplifying the sounds you are listening to.

As you probably realize, the mono switch makes for a very convenient way of checking relative phase (that the two channels are in phase with each other). In mono mode if relative phase is correct a sharply focused image will be heard centered between the speakers, and if it is incorrect an unfocused diffuse image will be heard.

But I would expect the relevance of the mono switch to assessing absolute phase/polarity to be subtle at most.

Regards,
-- Al
You can hear if the system phase is inverted at the XLR by pin configuration or the preamp my design is phase inverted, and tube preamps have a history of this and the manufacture notes that in the owner manual.

My dealer told me never to switch the + & - at the speakers, always at the amp. I have tried it both ways and you can hear a huge difference, I use Dynaudio Confidence 5's.

Switch and the speakers and the sound will thin out and lose some impact and dynamics, switch at the amp and body and the bass dynamics come back.

I get more results than using the polarity switch on my cd player. Bound for Sound wrote about this 20 years also.

This has nothing to do if the CD is recorded properly. We start with the system then check your LP or CD if imaging is poor, and bass is not tight with impact.

This is not even hard to hear if you go to live concerts and train your ear. Perhaps some system will not show it as much, but my speakers have no problem letting me know something is a miss.
I think that the original question should be re-posted and all those who participated in this thread be barred from answering.
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To keep it simple. My preamp (C2300) XLR's are wired different than my Marantz SA7-S1 CD/SACD player. So the signal that reaches the amp is inverted. So I have two choices, one is to use the electronic phase switch on the CD player or to flip the + & - speaker wires at the amp.

The biggest improvement I found was doing it at the amp end. When using the CD polarity inversion switch things improve, but the improvement is better when switched at the amp before the speakers.

Using the Polarity switch things improve, but their still is a mist and imaging is bloated not as tight or stable, vocals definition vague in comparison when I switch the speaker wire leads at the amp end.

This is what I noticed when switch at the amp end. Imaging improves, depth and field and width improves, micro dynamics and small details are much easier to hear almost like the noise floor drops.

The thing that will throw you off, is when you do the phase switch at the CD player, the sound becomes more forward and bigger sounding, so at first you think that is better, but if you really listen to a vocal, a trumpet, snare drum, yes it does sound less upfront when switched at the amp, but the attack is clearer, words are clearer, and instead of big a bloated big image things tighten up and have shades of micro dynamics.

I use a mono recording also, and in very case switch the amp side of the speaker wires gave a much more natural and real presentation, though some might say less impressive hi-fi sounding due to the depth of field and imaging moving from the front of the speakers to behind the speakers.

This has been written about for years, Martin DeWulf wrote many articles on this, and others have also noted that switching at the amp is better than doing it electronically at the preamp or cd player.

No all this does it get your system in proper absolute phase, recordings still can have issues. and then phase switch on the preamp or preamp will assist in that issue.

Having said that, it is also know some speakers my not show these changes due to their design. My my speakers do, and it takes seconds to hear it and once you hear it and train your ear you become very sensitive to it.

We could open another can or worms talking about AC polarity affect on certain audio designs. Sony SCD1 for instance sounded night and day better with the AC male end polarity switched.

In fact many books say all your gear should be checked for this to make sure your really hearing the gear that you paid your money for.

Simple cheater plug, file off the thicker prong, then just reverse the male end, one will give you more stable image, better bass and attack, and a much more musical presentation.

The other vague, boring, and somewhat lifeless. I think a review in TAS just mentioned this on a unit they reviewed, saying make sure your flip the AC polarity on the power cord.

Like tuning up a motor in a car, getting your system at peak performance takes some effort, and in the end you will have piece of mind.