In Reply to: RE: Active crossover for ET-LFE8b posted by Davey on October 12, 2015 at 10:18:27:
I was astonished not only that I could tell which way was right with each recording, but could do so quickly and consistently. I would call the difference subtle but obvious, which is to say I think I could ABX it. (These were all audiophile recordings rather than multimiked ones with botched phase -- I was experimenting with the intriguing Isone VST plug in, an HRTF emulator for headphones.)
The only way I can think of to test whether it's the device or the ear can sense polarity would be to use a symmetrical transducer like an ESL in free air conditions. I think it's unlikely that the ear is sensing the polarity directly -- it's basically a rectifying device -- but I can't rule it out, since the ear is after all sensitive to static pressure. But can those nerves distinguish between low and high relative pressure? If so, it seems possible to me that it could sense something like a drum thwack -- after all, you can feel that in your gut if it's loud enough. Then too, the ear is itself an asymmetrical device and perhaps the nonlinear behavior alters the sound?
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Follow Ups
- RE: Active crossover for ET-LFE8b - josh358 11:15:01 10/12/15 (0)