Reversed Polarity LP Cuts - Examples?

Back in the days of matrix quadraphonic, I experimented quite a bit with phase issues. If your preamp has this capability, here are some interesting things you might try.

1. Run one channel inverted all the time, and reverse the speaker wires to compensate. Since most of the music signal is common mode (same in both channels) your power amp will work better because the draw from the plus and the minus power supplies is evened out. (Dynaco specd their old Stereo120 amplifier at 60 watts per channel (with channels driven out of phase). That last part, in parentheses, was in very small print.

2. If your amp can handle the low impedance (and most will because of item 1 above) bridge the power amp with another speaker. Presto! Instant center channel with perfect phase relationship to Left and Right, differential configuration for lowered distortion, zero cost for amplification, and having twice the power as appropriate for the center (common mode) signal.

3. You can achieve perfect Left/Right channel balance (very important for matrix multichannel) by puting the phase back to normal, playing a Monaural signal like FM interchannel noise, and listening for a null (silence) from the bridged center speaker (or earphones). In my case, in addition to adjusting the Balance control, I needed to touch up the Tone controls to get a perfect null.

There is lots more fun to be had fooling around with phase. Enjoy.

Last nite had a listen to a couple of LPs and this time, I took the extra step of reversing polarity using the spk terminals. I have to say that reversing polarity with LPs IS audible. If its out of phase, the music appears to be disoriented, veiled, or somewhat odd.

I might try it out with some CDs later to see what happens.

I found this in the January 2002 Stereophile analog corner where Mike Fremer tells that he purchased a mint second pressing-the desireable one-of Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland (Reprise RS 6307). And I quote: this pressing (all-mustard-colored Reprise label without the "W7" logo) is the one to have: engineer Eddie Kramer told me that when he and Hendrix mixed the album, they included all kinds of out-of-phase material designed to create a surround-sound effect from two speakers-especially in the whirring sound effects at the beginning and end of this two-LP set. When the mastering enginners at Reprise in L.A. got the tape and put it up on an oscilloscope, they were horrified to see all of the out-of-phase information and, without asking anyone, "fixed" it. When Hendrix and Kramer heard the first pressing (orange-mustard "W7/Reprise" label), they went nuts and demanded it to be restored to their original intent for the second pressing. Un-quote. Rich

Rich, I'm sure you realize that this a different scenario and question. I can't see what "fixing" the master in this regard after mixdown could entail except by selectively using info from only one of the channels as necessary to cross-feed into a new panned-'stereo' mix...

Gad, half of the CDs out there have reversed phase and a good 1/3 of the vinyl have reversed phase....For those without phase switches the Reference Recordings final movement of Symphony Fantastique is duplicated on an extra disc which is out of phase with the same cut on the remaining disc........A friend of mine is into classical recordings and says that virtually all the old Mercury's and RCAs that are poorly reviewed are reversed phase.....