"ScottW" wrote in message
news:TljTf.138833$0G.106251@dukeread10...
wrote in message
oups.com...
Sander deWaal wrote:
said:
wrote in message
roups.com...
Another thing that's even easier than installing a cheater, is to
simply check the polarity of all of your plugs that can be reversed.
A
lot of people don't think to do that (especially ignorant old
dinosaurs
like Arny Krueger, who don't even believe polarity has any audible
effect). I use music to test for correct polarity. Certain music is
better for checking proper polarity than just anything. Often, I'll
take out my Sheffield Track Record LP (or CD) to test for polarity
(or
my Chesky Test CD, which has a trumpet track for polarity testing),
by
hearing how the drum is struck. It will sound right (properly struck)
when the plug is correctly inserted, and wrong (inverted) when it
isn't.
Been there done that, no effect.
A freind of mine who was a TAS/Stereophile dogmatist, thought he'd
investigate this "tweak" and yes he did use music. I happened to be at
his
place when he was in the process of trying this out, so I had the
opportunity to let him hear the difference between the "proper "
polorization and the not give a crap version. So without heim knowing
which
was which I wouold switch between them and he would listen. No effect
that
he could determine.
There is, however, a possible technical reason for checking the
polarity of mains cables: the mains transformer has a certain capacity
from core to ground, chassis and encasing.
If you reverse the plug (here in Holland that's possible even with
earthed plugs), there may be a different current flowing from live to
case (very smallish, but still).
Because in general, in consumer electronics, grounds are connected via
the ground wire or screen of interconnects, these currents will flow
through the screens of the interconnects.
With sensitive gear, this may well result in a higher S/N ratio.
This is easily measurable, and sometimes even audible.
One reason more to use real symmetrical XLR connections and cables.
--
- Never argue with idiots, they drag you down their level and beat you
with experience. -
I'm not familiar with Euro electrical standards.
In the states it's not unusual to have a small (mv) current on the
neutral
relative to the ground or earthed connection from a lighting dimmer
or touch lamp or motor.
If it exceeds a volt or two then it becomes an audible problem.
The transformers I have encountered have always had the winding
connected between hot and neutral. Core grounded to chassis.
If the chassis is grounded to the earth at the AC power source
by the power cord or a separate third wire to the power strip,
how does reversing hot and neutral improve the situation?
I think he's saying if you floated chassis ground and reverse
hot and neutral you could cause an increase in ground current
through your signal ground to another piece of gear to
earth ground. That signal ground current flow can cause
noise with single ended ...so...ideally you should make sure your power
polarity (hot and neutral...IIRC hot is the smaller slot in a 110
outlet) and most plugs are now polarized (one small prong and
one wide)
This is not to be confused with reversing the polarity of speaker
connections, which is a phase issue (_ _ _'s speakers suck) :-)
Which is also not to be confused with signal polarity 
.
To clear up any confusion, that's what I was talking about.
--
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