Stereophile test CD2 In/Out of Phase test:question

That test shows whether your speakers are in phase with each other, it doesn't show absolute phase. That means if they are being fed the same signal the cones will be moving in and out together. If the phase is reversed then when one speaker is moving in the other is moving out.

If your speakers are in phase, and you reverse both speaker cables at the same time, they are still in phase. You just reversed the polarity.

FYI, the correct term is really polarity, but phase is used so often it has come to be accepted as being correct.
Phase has to do with time.
Polarity has to do with whether the signal is positive or negative, or in the case of a speaker, whether it is moving in or out.

If two signals reach their peaks at the same time they are said to be in phase. If one signal reaches it's peak earlier or later in time than the other then they are out of phase. If you switch the leads on your speakers you haven't changed any timing, you have reversed the polarity.

I never looked at the booklet before. If you only listen to the CD then my assessment is correct. Track 2 is labeled "channel phasing, not absolute phase. "Having "a clearly defined central image" as the recording tells you to listen for has only to do with the speakers being in phase with each other, not absolute phase.

Then if you read the booklet the discussion is all about absolute phase. So it appears that it can be used for both.

Tbg, it really is one channel out of phase (actually inverted polarity) with the other on the recording and then the two channels are in phase. If you reverse the wires on just one of your speakers the image will be centered when he says the signal is out phase and diffuse when he says they are in phase.

Your question is the tricky part. Once they are both the same polarity (image centered when he says they are in phase) the idea is to listen to the part when he says they are in phase, then reverse both speaker leads to invert the polarity and try it again. The bass should sound more natural one way or the other. As Rives pointed out, some people are more sensitive to this than others. Or perhaps some know what to listen for and others don't. I've never tried it, but I will later today to see if I can hear the difference.

Tbg, I'm not sure what was "contrary" to your experience. I would only ask you to try it again. Play track two and see if the image is centered when he tells you it should be. If it is, reverse the cable on one speaker only and I believe it will be centered when he tells you it shouldn't be.

I tried reversing the leads on both speakers at the same time and I do believe one way was better than the other even though both were centered.

As far as using the candle. I tried that and when it sucked the flame back it caught my woofer on fire which spread to the cabinet, my carpet , and resulted in about $50,000 in damage. Please PayPal that amount to me ASAP.

El, can you recommend any audiophile gong recordings so I can test your hypothesis.

That's amazimg. I need to get out more. I have a recording of Tibetan finger bells, but I had no idea there was so much interest in the gong.