The polarity conundrum
by Paul McGowan
I am going to stick my neck out and make you a wager. I'll bet that if I crept into your home one night and swapped +/- on each of your speakers that you'd not notice the difference.
Yet, in the heat of the moment during a listening session you'd hear the swap immediately—even if you didn't know what it was I was doing.
In fact, I know this to be true because I've done both experiments.
What might we conclude from this observation? That long-term polarity swaps are meaningless, yet short-term ones are noticeable? And, if that is so, why?
My guess is that the ear/brain's sensitivity to whether transients launch in the + or the - direction is easily discerned in a real-time comparison, but nearly impossible with long-term change. In other words, it is the quick comparison we're sensitive to, not the long-term effects of it.
It's an interesting puzzle and if you want to learn more about what's actually taking place with polarity changes, go here and enjoy this short video.
Paul McGowan
Founder & CEO
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