2. amps-preamps
  3. 153500-63554

Polarity Conundrum

I recently bought an Audio Research LS-15 preamp and an Accuphase P-450 power amp from other Audiogoners. They will be connected via the balanced XLR ins/outs, but the polarity scheme is the opposite in each piece. The LS-15 is Ground/Positive/Negative, the P-450 is Ground/Negative Positive. Someone(s) on another thread suggested that the simple way to address this polarity inversion is by swapping the speaker leads to the amp to the opposite connectors.
Instead of positive to positive, you go positive to negative/negative to positive on the amp's output terminals. Can it be that simple? The Audio Research manual says to contact them when this situation is encountered, but if this simple fix will work, I'm all for it. What say you guys?
discnik

Showing 1 response by delkal

delkal
110 posts
 
Its reasonable to think you want your system to play with the correct polarity but not all recording are mixed with the correct polarity.  So it is hard to know what you are listening too.  According to this site 92% of CDs are inverted polarity.  I guess you can look at their list and swap your speaker cables for the various albums before you play it.    Or you can not worry about it and enjoy the music.

http://audiogeorge.com/the-polarity-list/  
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