preamp inverts polarity

geoffkait

Cleedsy, old bean, a vacuum is created by evacuating air from the system not by compressing it.

Quite so. That's what I wrote:

You can decompress air it until it's a vacuum ...

Decompress is not the same as evacuate. There can be no vacuum without an enclosure. There can be compression and decompression in a room obviously, for acoustic waves, but not a vacuum. In space no one can hear you scream.

Costco, when speakers are “out of phase” I.e., the + - wires are reversed on both speakers, the system is in the Reverse Absolute Polarity from whatever state it was in previously. Polarity is relative. That’s kind of the whole point. And in that sense, as on the test track on the XLO Test CD, “out of phase” is equivalent to Absolute Polarity.

I suspect this is just a simple case of you following the wrong ...you know...🐑 🐑 🐑

kosst_amojan

The transmission characteristics of air certainly don’t resemble electrically balanced operation.

That doesn’t mean that air is a "single-ended medium," as you’ve claimed. Air is also not a fig newton. That doesn’t mean air is a lemon meringue pie.

@ kosst_amojan - of course you’re correct (definitions of polarity vs. phase). By the time I noticed the typo, the 30 minute edit window had expired. It never pays to post before going to bed ;-)

@ geoffkait absolutely (with respect to how media is recorded). This might be the biggest factor as to why so many folks don’t "hear" polarity reversals.  They doubt their perception - as much because of inconsistencies in recordings as any other factor.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

I’ve read this whole thread and will never get that time back. 

Invert connections on both speakers then listen. If it sounds better then before, leave it. If your cables are built differently for negative and positive, try it anyway. 

If your preamp has a polarity switch, use that instead. 

Some recordings were recorded or mastered with inverted polarity, so the “right” polarity may vary. 

this whole thread has gone off base and no one has answered my question.

my preamp requires me to reverse cables at the speaker end, by design my speaker cables have designated cables for negative connection and positive cables. the positive and negative cables are of different compositions by manufacturer design.

my question is if I follow the preamp directions I will be defeating the design of the speaker cables, so which is it?

I’m afraid you’ll have to ask the cable manufacturer. I have a feeling you won’t like the answer.

OP, go back and read Almarg's post. Your original question was answered two and half weeks ago.

this whole thread has gone off base and no one has answered my question.

my preamp requires me to reverse cables at the speaker end, by design my speaker cables have designated cables for negative connection and positive cables. the positive and negative cables are of different compositions by manufacturer design.

my question is if I follow the preamp directions I will be defeating the design of the speaker cables, so which is it?

Your question was also answered by the post immediately proceeding the one quoted here. Here is that post again:

Invert connections on both speakers then listen. If it sounds better then before, leave it. If your cables are built differently for negative and positive, try it anyway.

If your preamp has a polarity switch, use that instead.

Some recordings were recorded or mastered with inverted polarity, so the “right” polarity may vary.

You can see that inverting the speaker connections with every LP or CD is going to be a pain. So if you have a lot of recordings that are made with only two microphones, get a preamp with an inversion switch so you don't have to be constantly behind the amps making the switch.

costco_emoji


@geoffkait
As usual, you’re pretty much wrong. Vacuums don’t exist anywhere in the known universe.

>>>>What a knucklehead. I stated that a vacuum is defined by the number air molecules per unit volume. A perfect vacuum is defined as the absence of any molecules in a given volume. There are degrees of vacuums, that’s why vacuums can be measured and there are units of measurement. Obviously some vacuums are better than others. Why do you often give the impression one exists between your ears?

Trying to win an argument by insulting someone is a sure sign of losing the argument. 

Anyone interested in the subject should read The Wood Effect. Just received my copy and it covers the (polarity) subject more than I ever thought possible... 

How can anyone hear polarity reversal correctly unless the speakers are phase coherent to begin with?   Many speakers have their tweeters and mid/woofers wired in reverse phase.  That happens because of the nature of the crossovers they use.  Only first order, or full range, single driver, speakers will be phase coherent. Never the less,  the listener may prefer one polarity setting on their DAC by the way the correct polarity improves the bass...  but the upper range will be diffuse when that happens unless the speakers are phase coherent

" >>>>my preamp requires me to reverse cables at the speaker end, by design my speaker cables have designated cables for negative connection and positive cables. the positive and negative cables are of different compositions by manufacturer design.<<<<"""""
An amplifier’s terminals are "push pull." They are marked red and black so you can get both channels hooked up the same consistently. When a preamp reverses polarity? Now the positive terminal will be pulling when it normally would be pushing. So, who ever designed that cable with its unique negative run? It is a marketing genius for the uninformed. For, at any moment while playing music the direction of the current in the speaker cables can change directions! Its what controls the speaker movement... There is no one direction for each leg of the speaker wires. They share in moving current back and forth. One second a terminal can be pushing. The next split second on the same terminal the direction can be reversed.... There can not be a dedicated cable material for the side that gets called the negative side. For it shares in pushing and pulling the signal.

Phase coherent speakers only offer a potential.  If the speakers are not set up properly its a wasted proposition. Set up is essential. Its like wearing eye glasses.  If one lens side is angled upward slightly, and the other lens is straight ahead... your eyes will tire you out.

Of course it’s only fair to point out that phase coherence is a different animal than Absolute Polarity.

Huh? Why would I report your posts, Costco? They are often the high point of my day. My substitute for the funny papers, if you will. 

@mboldda1 

Just insert a dedicated stereo signal phase inverter between your preamp and power amp if switching the leads on your speaker cables fails to restore the polarity.