wrote in message
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wrote in message
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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.
Back in the old days, the chassis of many kinds of popular electronic gear
was connected to one of the two power line plugs. The equipment was
marginally safe because it was completely enclosed in an insulating box.
Examples of this included the once-popular 5-tube AC-DC table radio and many
cheap record players. At times this equipment could be sensitive to which
way the power plug was inserted. At times the power cords on this kind of
equipment had special polarized power plugs that could only be easily
inserted one way - the preferred way.
Cheap, poorly designed audio equipment can be sensitive to how the power
cord is inserted. Of course this is a PITA because its just another possible
source of error during system setup. Therefore well-designed audio gear is
insensitive to how the power cord is inserted.
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.
So? You've proven that you and your friend are insensitive
listeners,whereas a million other people can hear
polarity. Did you have a point?
No, what was proven is that poorly-designed audio gear is sensitive to how
its power cord is inserted, and it has power cords that can be reversed.
Well-designed audio gear is insensitive to how the power cord is inserted,
or it has a power cord that can only be inserted one way - the right way.
Much of the best modern audio gear is designed with both ideas in mind - it
has a power cord that can only be inserted one way, and its performance is
unchanged with reverse-polarity power, perchance the outlet it is plugged
into, is wired with the hot and neutral lines reversed.