There are 2 issues being discussed. I think Husk was asking an electrical question about the pin-outs on XLR connectors. I vaguely remember something about not all brands being wired the same, which could cause problems mixing different brands of equipment (maybe tieing signal to ground?). Someone with specific electrical expertise needs to answer this.
The other thing being discussed is the effect of absolute polarity on sound. I never believed it mattered (i didn't know why it would). After talking to someone who was convinced otherwise, I tried it out (since my remote has a phase switch). I chose a recording, decided which phase I preferred, then looked away, and repeatedly hit the phase switch while waving the remote around, so that I had no idea which way the player was set. Then without looking, I switched back and forth until I again picked my favorite setting, which was the same as the first time. I have tried this experiment about 10 times, and have always been consistent (that is, picked the same phase blind as before), on recordings on which I thought I could tell a difference (I could tell before the experiment whether I could hear a difference or not). Many recordings I cna't hear a difference on, though, and when I can hear a difference, it is so subtle, even I wouldn't be convinced, except for the results of the blind listening tests. It is so subtle, I don't really think about it while listening. My 2cents.
The other thing being discussed is the effect of absolute polarity on sound. I never believed it mattered (i didn't know why it would). After talking to someone who was convinced otherwise, I tried it out (since my remote has a phase switch). I chose a recording, decided which phase I preferred, then looked away, and repeatedly hit the phase switch while waving the remote around, so that I had no idea which way the player was set. Then without looking, I switched back and forth until I again picked my favorite setting, which was the same as the first time. I have tried this experiment about 10 times, and have always been consistent (that is, picked the same phase blind as before), on recordings on which I thought I could tell a difference (I could tell before the experiment whether I could hear a difference or not). Many recordings I cna't hear a difference on, though, and when I can hear a difference, it is so subtle, even I wouldn't be convinced, except for the results of the blind listening tests. It is so subtle, I don't really think about it while listening. My 2cents.