[Vintage-Audio] Update On AR-4 Info

Tue Jul 8 03:19:00 2003

Gentlemen

Some musical waveforms can be asymmetric, even though they are a.c.  This 
link gives examples, I am sure there are more:
http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/asymmetry/asym.html

I have heard a test CD that repeats a section of music in both polarities 
and, yes, it makes an audible difference.  One sounds more 'right', 
that's about the best way I can describe it.

The interesting part is when you try and make a judgement about a multi-
tracked recording where some parts are polarity correct and some are 
inverted.  (However, with my 'cloth ears' this has never been a big 
issue..!)

Cheers

Terry

-----Original Message-----
From: "Rudy Rutenber" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 22:50:29 -0700
Subject: Re: [Vintage-Audio] Update On AR-4 Info

> Well, I have to stick my 2-cents in here...
> 
> Regarding the polarity of the entire system.  When you hear a bass
> drum, it is positive in that the wave produced at the time of
> recording, is forward towards the microphone.  If all the polarity in
> the wiring is correct from the mic to the final medium such as a CD,
> and, to your speakers, the speaker will move outward and reproduce the
> bass drum as it was recorded.  In some music, this is not important.
> In music that has a solid beat or groove, it will sound mushy if the
> polarity is reversed.  That's one good reason to use the correct
> polarity for your speakers.  (that is, a positive voltage on the
> positive terminal produces an outward motion of the cone)  I'm sure
> there are many others as I am sure to learn here soon.
> Rudy