Is Your System In Phase?

[agent_kith]

Here's an interesting article from Stereophile.

Just had my DAC serviced recently by my colleague to fix a fault, had a quick conversation with him along the way of some recordings I borrowed from him.

Woke up this morning, and suddenly the stereophile article and my comments clicked together. It literally dawned on me everything I said to him (e.g. very closed mic recording, sound stage constrained within the speakers, etc) are classical examples of an inverted phase system!!!



So took a quick shot of the DAC and sure enough it was set to 2+ (Which is the wrong setting for mys setup). This switch was flicked as the DAC was moved and serviced.
 

Still managed to pick this up from a quick casual listen (Didn't really sit down and listen critically as I have a dreadful week!). Do I have bat ears or what? What!

Absolute phase is a thing I tell 'ya, although I can't prove it yet (The article was published in 1980 and we are still non the wiser 40 years later). Just make sure to set your system for Absolute Polarity (+). And don't think you'd fine with RCA (Single Ended gears) - some equipment, like Conrad Johnson has -ve polarity!