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In Reply to: How did I listen for phase errors? posted by NickWay on May 27, 2005 at 12:38:20:
correct phase usually gives me pinpoint imaging. Out of phase, recordings have a large soundstage, but things are much more blurred, like a soft focus lens effect.
Problems with hearing absolute polarity occur primarily because many if not most speakers have phase issues in their design and implementation. Take a careful look at Stereophile's test reports. Even expensive systems like the Wilson Watt have drivers which are inverted to each other. Any design like that will negate the effects of switching polarity as some aspects will become better and other will become worse.
If your speakers are phase and time coherent, the difference can be amazing. AS usual YMMV.............
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actually make it difficult to hear phase. Phase is easier to hear with a box enclosure since the back wave is usually not audible ( inside the box). With Maggies, the sound stage will either be in front or behind the speaker since the speakers are dipole. You can discerna difference in the sharpness of the attacks though. Consonants are crisper, horns have more of that'tongued' attack when the phase is correct.Stu
PS If you can hear phase differences using Maggies, your hearing is pretty good.
Thanks,Funny you say I have good hearing though. My wife might say otherwise... LOL.
As far as sound is concerned, I have pretty good hearing but not the best.When I say things sound more forward and laid back, it could be the soundstage moving slightly with the phase. When ifs forward there is slightly more focus.
Do also have acoustic panel behind my speakers which would probably help me hear any differences.
You can see a pic of my room here:
http://www.nickway.com/My_Room.jpg
The forward sounding placement is the correct phase. If you get more sensitive to phase then you'll soon realize that many recordings have mixed phase (argghhhhh!). One example is the Holly Cole trio 'Don't Smoke in Bed' CD. TAS went and claimed the Canadian version was superior so I went out and got it only to realize the Canadian version was inverted in relation to the US version. The trio itself is recorded in mixed phases. The piano is inverted to the voice and bass, or vice versa depending on which release you have.Stu
PS Oh Yeah in regards to your wife, I believe that's called selective hearing, but then we won't tell her that, won't we?
Given that it's a crap shoot as to whether a particular CD was created in the correct phase, why worry about your system having the right phase?
It's not really thay big of deal. As I have been listening to my discs as is until now.
I was just wondering what sort of benifits I could expect by correcting the phase.In the end its all about the music anyways. If it sounds good thats what matters.
I"m just as curious about this subject as you are. I have a phase switch on my preamp because my Accuphase CDP is 'out of phase' but I rarely bother to switch the preamp and I can't really hear much difference when I do.
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