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Speaker popularity

Speaker *Polarity* (sorry autocorrect)
                      >:( 

This is sort of a poll question for anyone to chime in. In general, I believe people on this forum have a good ear for finer details.

Can you tell the difference if the polarity of *both* speakers are reversed?

I remember a thread from way back where someone shared an experience of a vendor at an audio convention that deliberately reversed the speaker input connection?

...Yes, no, depends(please clarify).

If yes, how would you describe the difference.
Thanks in advance:-)

recluse

Showing 1 response by mwh777

mwh777
106 posts
 
Phase or polarity? While I can't answer in a technical sense, to me the word polarity seems to be right.

I gather that the original question is about "absolute" polarity (both channels inverted at the same time) rather than about the polarity of individual drivers. I happen to be very sensitive to both absolute polarity and also to just one speaker being inverted compared to the other one. I have found that not all listeners are real sensitive to this issue.

My take on it is that inverted absolute polarity results in the whole sound stage being pushed back and it is compressed into a shallower space. The images are flatter.The overall sound is duller. Yes, the leading edge and overall articulation are reduced. The sound just loses life. 

To my ear, polarity inversion of just one speaker gives a "spacey" ethereal character with a less controlled position of each voice or instrument.
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