speaker phase
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71 |
Greetings all! I have currently several different manufacturers represented in my HT setup (until I can get myself an Axiom "sweet" of speakers). I am curious if there is any (easy) way to check if all the speakers are in proper phase, or if it really makes a difference? I've observed the correct red/black color connections on both ends -- speakers and amplifier -- but with the different manufacturers, I'm wondering if there is a standard way to set the phase to the colors on the posts? Any ideas?
Thanks for your input.
Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion: you must set yourself on fire!
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,467
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,467 |
There are test DVD's out there that let you test that.
If your speakers are out of phase, the sound will be very hard to localize.
I use the Avia HT DVD. I'm sure other members have some other free alternatives out there. Some DVD's have a THX optimizer on them.
M22s|VP100|QS4s|HSU STF2
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
If you have a copy of DVE ( Digital Video Essentials), it has a test that will show if your speakers are in phase. If you don't have it, and are interested, do a Google search and you can find it on the internet for up to $10 less than list price.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71 |
Thanks for the suggestion. Do I need a microphone somewhere in this setup?
Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion: you must set yourself on fire!
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,467
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,467 |
Nope.
It's really easy to hear if they are in phase or not during the test.
M22s|VP100|QS4s|HSU STF2
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1 |
When the speakers are in phase the sound is very directional. Out of phase, and the sound seems to come from everywhere. A bit disorienting. Very easy to tell by ear.
*********** "Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7 |
Yep. When the speakers are in phase, it sounds like the test signal is "in the middle" of whatever speakers you are checking. When the speakers are out of phase, it sounds as if the test signals are out beyond the speakers with a "hole in the middle".
Normally the test starts by checking that your mains are in phase, then tests other speakers against the mains, then confirms with a few other combinations like "just surrounds".
M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39 M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1 LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840 Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840 Likes: 13 |
I guess I'm a little confused by your question, red is red, black is black, positive (+) is usually associated with red, and negative (-) associated with black. Just like the jumper terminals on a car battery. I would not buy a Calibration CD, just to check for polarity, would be a waste of money. Speaker wire can also be purchased with a color strip on on side, so it is easy to make sure you have everything hooked up right.
M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350 AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 828
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 828 |
there are phase tests on most dvd's that are THX ie starwars
------------------------------------------------ Leave the gun, Take the canolis.
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71 |
I KNOW the wire is correct as far as polarity / phase goes. My point was, since the speakers come from different manufacturers, do they have a STANDARD way to mark the colors that will positively assure correct polarity throughout the 7 or 8 speakers? That's why I was looking for a test of sorts.
I'll have to check my Starwars dvds for the test mentioned in snakeyes post.
Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion: you must set yourself on fire!
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
Though it's possible that a given manufacturer may mistakenly wire the terminals incorrectly, It is common practice that "red is positive and black is negative." I think you can, pretty much, count on that being the case with today's speakers.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71 |
Where is this test? What is it called? I didn't find anything on the SW3 DVDs that sounded likely. I've got to find where my son "hid" the others to see if I can find anything on them....
Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion: you must set yourself on fire!
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
If the disc has the THX Optimizer, it usually can be found by going to the disc's main menu, and looking under "setup," or "languages," or some similar setting.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7 |
>>Though it's possible that a given manufacturer may mistakenly wire the terminals incorrectly, It is common practice that "red is positive and black is negative."
I guess the question is "what does positive mean in the context of a speaker ?". Cones go out ? Cones go in ?
M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39 M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1 LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,602
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,602 |
In reply to:
I guess the question is "what does positive mean in the context of a speaker ?". Cones go out ? Cones go in ?
The cone moves out with "positive" voltage and in with "negative" voltage on any correctly wired speaker.
Just tested this to make sure my recollection is correct... with an Axiom 4.5" driver, a small paper cone full-range driver salvaged from a "boom box" and a speaker salvaged from a set of Altec-Lansing 2.1 computer speakers.
Bren R.
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71 |
Thanks for the advice. I found a THX optimiser on Pirates of the Carribean, believe it or not. Running it, I actually found one of my speakers out of phase... (How embarassing!) That movie sounds awesome in DTS-ES!! You're right about the sound imaging, too. Thanks again!
Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion: you must set yourself on fire!
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379 Likes: 7 |
>>Running it, I actually found one of my speakers out of phase... (How embarassing!)
Hey, that's why the tests are there. Glad you found it.
Did you notice a difference after fixing the phase ?
M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39 M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1 LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
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Re: speaker phase
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71 |
Yeah, I found a difference. Before running the THX optimizer, I ran the speaker noise tester on the receiver, and found that my surrounds were reversed. So that made a big difference in correcting the fuzzy location of fly-by sounds. Then, the phase correction kind of sharpened the focus.
Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion: you must set yourself on fire!
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