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While polarity is absolutely audible (over low-phase-shift systems), the fact remains...

Posted by clarkjohnsen (R) on May 19, 2006 at 08:01:07

In Reply to: Re: The absolute polarity of CDs relative to vinyl records posted by bgerhard on May 19, 2006 at 01:42:41:

...that between the two polarities naturally inscribed on every
recording medium, no written or de facto standard exists as
to which is "correct". Not on 78s, nor on tapes, nor on LPs, nor on
CDs of any description, nor on DVDs, nor over the Net. Nowhere,
nada.

And more's the pity, that one cannot set the system and expect
consistently correct polarity.

Granted, "the difference between in or out of phase is -- to me --
sometimes huge, sometimes subtle." That will depend on the
recording, my friend. Cleanly miced acoustic music comes through
loud and clear polarity-wise; multitracked and toyed-up stuff, much
less well.

Polarity inheres to any recorded medium although it is left to the
listener to find the correct setting for his system each and
every time. Absent a switch, systems are fixed in one or the other
polarity; choosing the one that allows the reproduction to have the
bang and impact of live music, means that you are tuning in to
Absolute Polarity, the only true absolute in audio.

Given the lack of standards and the binary nature of polarity, it's
hardly surprising to discover (as I first did back in the Eighties)
that recordings are split 50/50. And even if one (usually small)
outfit maintains consistency in its product, there will be a
counterpart whose consistency lies in the opposite direction. An
article in Ultimate Audio some years ago unwittingly illustrated
the principle.

Regarding LP vs. CD polarity comparisons, since no impetus exists
to make them conform to any standard (indeed among the many LPs and
CDs of the same recording known to me, various editions of each
can be different), comparisons become hopelessly confused. One
hopes that reviewers might someday recognize this fact.

Needless to say, from an understanding of the above it is wholly
improper to assert anything like "Kind of Blue was out of absolute
polarity", unless one is speaking of listening to one's system in
the wrong polarity.

To repeat: No conventions exist to make sure that you are listening
in Absolute Polarity. Neither the AES, nor the RIAA, nor the DIN,
nor the specialist press has lifted a finger to establish or even
suggest a standard for recordings or for playback equipment. Thus
it's still up to you yourself, to achieve better sound for free.

clark

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