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phase correction for records?

I am probably asking this out of pure ignorance, but is it possible that some of my records were encoded in a different phase than others in my collections? I ask this because given the identical setup, some of my records have a very open sound stage while others seem very compressed. This variance occurs with records of the same production year and condition. I have compared the LPs to CD versions and found that certain LPs are far more open than their CD equivalents and vice-versa but have no other explanation.

My setup:

vpi Scout with TNT platter, Grado Sonata cartridge
Musical Fidelity X-LPS phono stage
Audio Aero Capitole 24/192 cd player
simaudio moon i3 integrated amp
mbl 121 speakers
mbl subwoofer
bybee power conditioner
various decent cables, only the tonearm cable being shielded

There's a lot I'd like to improve on in this setup and suggestions are welcome.
jennyjones

Showing 3 responses by rauliruegas

rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear JJ: Yes it is possible that some come with different phase/polarity.

+++++ " some of my records have a very open sound stage while others seem very compressed. This variance occurs with records of the same production year and condition.... " +++++

here you have to remember that each record pass for a different recording session where the engginers make changes according what they like or the producer want and these are reasons for the differences i playback.

Now, with a " dipole " speaker like the one you own the phase subject is almost dramatic: yesterday I was at my friend's Guillermo place who owns big Soundlabs speakers ( great speakers ) and we try several LPs ( any kind and " vintage " ) making changes on polarity and in all the records we heard a " dramatic " change for the better/worst. I comeback to my home and try the same with my system but the change here was/is really tiny.

It is more often on CDs that come with a change on phase than in LPs.

Like Dopague say: you have to be sure that your system is " wired " with absolute polarity through a test record. Of course that a polarity switch help a lot here but I think you don't have it in your preamp.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Dopogue: Rare that that happen because Guillermo and I were 4-5 hours working on.

Maybe that friend's switch was out of work and we have to take in count to the system's differences and room interaction.

It is much a coincidence that in two different " bipolar " ( JJ and Guillermo ones. ) speakers we can heard those differences that like JJ point out are heard mainly on the soundstage presentation.

In my speakers I can't hear almost nothing but that with inverted polarity the music comes with less " emotion ".

Anyway, it could be interesting that other bipolar speaker owners try on it and see what happen.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Tom: These test records have it:

Vanguard StereoLab Test Record ( VSD-100 ), HI-FI Sound Stereo Test Record, OmniDisc by Telarc ( DG-10073/74 ), Stereo Review SRT-14, CBS Laboratories STR-100.

I hope this could help you.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
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