Stereophile test CD2 In/Out of Phase test:question

It is also arbitrary which side of the road on which we drive, but it helps that there is a convention. In my experience, it often is very important to have correct absolute phase. I only wish I had an easier way to switch phase.

The test is for absolute phase or polarity not for one speaker being out of phase with the other. Only careless installation would have that happen.

Changing the leads at the amp or at the speaker equally deal with change the absolute phase.

Remember, however, that many recording are recorded out of phase and some with some microphone in phase and others out of phase.

Some preamps provide a phase switch, although many add another stage to do so, which hurts more than it helps.

It is probably the common confusion in the booklet as it is played "in" phase and then "out of" phase. If it is really one channel out of phase with the other, which channel would be reversed for "out of" phase?

Lvk47, I thought I had posted this, but I guess not.

Take a D cell battery and connect the bottom to one of the leads to the drivers. Then just touch the top + of the battery to the other lead. If the driver moves forward that is the red or hot end. If it move backward, the lead to the + is actually the neutral.

Herman, what you say is contrary to my experience.

Opps, you are right for compression drivers, and it will be hard to see what direction they go. I guess you could put a candle in front and see the drag on the flame.

Herman, I have checked seven test records and cds that I have, and you are right, they all suggest reversing leads on one speaker. I guess this is why I have always concluded that at least for the test record or cd, that my system is in absolute phase. I must admit that I wonder why such trivial information is so often provided. I do have one, however, that plays three cuts both in absolute absolute phase and out.

There is a vagueness of the image on some recording when they are out of polarity.

I cannot be held responsible for your listening too loudly. If you had polarity right, it would have blown out the candle at your volume level. Remember this if you ever have another fire in your listen room.

Sean, I would think it would be all woofers facing the same direction should pulse together.

It is curious why JBL would mismark the woofers. Maybe in the original design for which they were used the mid-range and treble were deliberately out of phase with the woofers.

Presumably since the initial pulse of music is a positive pressure wave. This has always concerned me as the microphone moves away with this pressure. If it is phased properly, it seems to me that this would be a negative signal and thus with equal stages of amplification would reach the speaker as a negative signal, causing a retraction of the voice coil. This would indeed make JBL right and the others wrong.

I have heard your explanation about England's choice versus that in the U.S. It fails to explain France and the rest of Europe and obviously fails in Australia.