For multiway speakers with normal crossovers there is no overall correct polarity as the speaker rotates the phase all the time. You can only have restricted frequency regions where the polarity is right. Some manufacturers use the convention that the lowest way -- the woofer -- should have positive polarity (for less cumbersome integration with subs or other speakers in HT setups).What is the easiest way to check polarity from digital file in the music player to speaker? I have no idea how the equipment changes polarity of the signal on its way to the speaker.
Blue is correct polarity? it looks a tad smoother around the "edges"
For multiway speakers with normal crossovers there is no overall correct polarity as the speaker rotates the phase all the time. You can only have restricted frequency regions where the polarity is right. Some manufacturers use the convention that the lowest way -- the woofer -- should have positive polarity (for less cumbersome integration with subs or other speakers in HT setups).
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For multiway speakers with normal crossovers there is no overall correct polarity as the speaker rotates the phase all the time. You can only have restricted frequency regions where the polarity is right. Some manufacturers use the convention that the lowest way -- the woofer -- should have positive polarity (for less cumbersome integration with subs or other speakers in HT setups).
A step signal (signal going from 0 to 1, and back to 0 after about a second) is good test signal, if the cone goes outward the polarity is positive for the woofer.
A more general test signal that works at any (or a specific) frequency range is an asymmetric waveform, the simplest being a sine plus its second harmonic at a certain phase offset, and then check that with a microphone on an oscilloscope. How do you know the polarity of the mic is correct? Ballon (paper bag) explosion ;-).
There also are hardware devices the PA guys are using. Nowadays we even have phone apps for polarity checking but I haven't tested any of these.
Speakers with linear phase crossovers are few and far between, not more than 1% or so. "Normal" refers to what applies to vast majority (the definition of normal).What are normal crossovers?
There were a bunch of speakers designed to have low order crossovers where the phase was not flipped along the stack of drivers.
In DSP land and active crossovers, it gets a lot easier.
The polarity switch is also audible using headphones.
Are you saying you can listen to some music and say "oh this sounds like the phases is inverted"?I swear I've heard absolute polarity issues in the past, but with decent gear (speakers/headphones), and music, not test signals, it's really a non-issue for me.
Thanks. My neighbours hate it.Testfile of sensitivity to absolute phase and phase rotation.
Are you saying you can listen to some music and say "oh this sounds like the phases is inverted"?
Oh i have such a test track too for 3d spacing, its " Burn the Witch by Radiohead " really a good one to test for it with those "echo-effects", and yes phase had an impact to it too, tho for me its still a "general impact" that affects everything, more or less (with my speakers atleast)Hi Guys
I’m not sure if this will help but it is to do with ‘phase’
Hope it helps.SH Spotlight - Play the Kinks "Waterloo Sunset" in stereo, check and fix or improve your stereo playback with it!
We've talked about this before but try it. Play the stereo WATERLOO SUNSET and see how far you can get the background singing to go. The recording...forums.stevehoffman.tv
As in the activation of the switch? Sure, there will be a minor 'click' when a D/A converter inverts the polarity.
@Pegwill , @Ghoostknight , I think you may be confusing "absolute polarity" and "phase". Easy mistake, but they are not the same thing.I’m not sure if this will help but it is to do with ‘phase’