So can someone explain to me the benefits of reversing the polarity on tweeters that are mounted up high vs the mids being down in the doors? This seems to be a topic with little documented data/information.

Thanks!

Parag

 

i was under the impression that tweeters should never be reversed polarity (by installer, not the manufac.), as they are the easiest speakers to blow?

i cant imagine that they'd sound better

 

Theres a lot of good writeups on ECA...

 

PS Heres a couple

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showt...threadid=97540
http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showt...threadid=81356

Those are more pertaining to what reversing the polarity does, why its not the same as a physical delay, etc. I didnt read very far to see if they address what to do when speakers are mounted in XYZ location, but it should be a good start.

Oh yeah, and Im subscribed for anything others have to say on the topic.

 

Based on a rec. on that site, with the mids in the doors he recommends reversing the phase of both mids. Interesting.... I'm curious to hear others idea's on this. Don? Manny?

 

In.

10chars.

 

Reversing will not change how it physically is used, it can also not in any way,shape or form damage the speaker. Many people often change phase on their subs every so often as well. Some for 'imaging' purposes, but others for longer lifespan.

Theres plenty on ECA to read, so Ill leave it at that, but Parag..its intended only when theyre X amount away from the driver, typically 18" or so...

 

Thanks, gave it a shot today, will see if I notice any difference. Haven't listened to'em since.

 

a car's interior, with its many obstructions, has phasing anomolies galore. that said, this is why my high-end digital proc. offers the option to reverse the polarity on all 8, output channels, along with the usual- slope, frequency, level, time delay. it's just another tool in the fine-tuning arena of SQ audio systems.
another reason for reversing the polarity(this is done within the x-over itself) is for 2nd order x-over slopes.
hope this helps.

 

please explain the, "for longer lifespan." part. my brain doesn't compute-sorry

 

I tried this back when I was still running my sound lines with the passive crossover, and I honestly noticed no difference (but maybe my ears aren't that sensitive).

Also, going along with what Don said about it not damaging the speakers, I just want to go one step further and say that some manufacturers recommend reversing the polartiy for better sound; Rainbow recommends trying it with the sound line tweets.

 

Sorry - maybe I should have been more clear- *some believe that changing polarity every few months (specifically on subs) will increase their lifespan. This is not a theory I personally buy into, just stating more info to the question at hand.

 

Can you explain further regarding the 2nd order x-overs + polarity reversal.

 

well..........i'd like to but not being even remotely involved with this subject matter in 5+ years, means i'd have to dig up one of my reference material from storage just to refresh my memory to be ABLE to explain further. i might but sorry, don't hold your breath, it's getting colder so i'm back to working on finishing the insulating/sheet-rocking of my new work shop and quad garage.
Pearl96Max- thanks, bro

 

Hmm alright.....
Considering I'm running both of my mids and tweets in 2nd order x-overs, I may be well suited to reverse polarity on those as well..........................

 

Any benefit to reversing polarity on a set of SLC's in the stock locations of a 5th gen? With the stock tweeter location, would I be getting any cancellation since they face each other?

 

KyMan, definately try it, it made a world of difference in my setup in the stock locations.

 

what kind of difference? explain a little please.

 

Initially with the position of my tweeters, they seemed like they weren't loud enough. The highs seemed muddied by the good midbass output (like there were no highs). So after reversing the pol. I noticed a better response in the upper frequencies, and they didn't seem like they were directed anymore, before I could tell exactly where the highs were coming from, but now I can't. They are much more wide spread and the imaging is much better.

 

really....

thats pretty interesting because i cant seem to pull enough highs out of my SLC's, I mean granted they're only getting 45 watts each side (that'll change soon), but i have an Alpine 9835 head with the highs cranked basically and i'm still not fully satisfied. Maybe its half becuase they arent getting enough power .

Its funny cus thats exactly how i feel, the midbass is very decent, but the highs aren't where i want them to be.

ill try switching the poles as soon as i get a chance, and let ya know how it goes

 

Def switch them, I bet things change dramatically. Of course mine are getting a tad bit more power, but that should still change he way they sound and bring out the highs quite a bit!

Like I said orignially they sounded so directional, and just weak, not well balanced. All of that changed with the switch.

 

45 per side? What amp are you using? Feed them puppies, theyll take it !

 

Why don't you use that JL that you have for sale?

 

that is the amp im using. im gonna first try just bridging it to the comps, so they'll get 150 each, and see how that sounds. then ill try switching poles.

I know don, im getting a new amp soon enough.

 

I thought the J/L was rated at 70x4 rms, but DEF bridge that amp. I'm running my 4150XXK (not bridged) with gain ALL the way down and these suckers get LOUD.

 

no thats the slash series... i have the marine line one.

 

Oh I see. Are you gonna go alpine like stated in your FS post?

 

Ill be getting PDX amps next year, yes, for their size and dealer price .

also,

and you're telling me it sounds better Parag? im a little hesitant to try it now..

 

What he said is OUT of phase that is different than reversing polarity. Out of phase is when one driver is wired reverse while the other one is not. IE if I wired only one tweeter in reverse and left the other one normal. That is not what I did.

BTW, since when does a tweeter produce bass? That quote is directed more for the mid's not the tweeters. And if you ask any competitor, they usually have to play around with their polarity for imaging etc.

If you don't want to do it, it's on you

 

what?

"Make sure that the polarity in loudspeakers, crossover and amplifier is garunteed."

i never said tweets produce bass. I would read that and think they were talking about all 4 speakers, cus if they were just talking about hte mids, they would have said so.

not trying to argue, just the way i took it. I think Ima try it anyways..

 

Ya dude, don't worry. Just do it. You'll see. The bass cancellation won't occur with reversing the tweeter polarity. No argument, but that info in the rainbow guide, besides partially misspelled, is not really 100% true it is misleading. You won't cancel bass if you reverse polarity on both speakers.

 

yeah ill give it a shot. just sold my amp too! will have something else on the way soon enough.

 

This is what my manual for the Germaniums states regarding tweeter polarity:



"If the woofer and tweeter are placed very closely together, the polarity of the tweeters as indicated at the crossover
should be maintained. ⇒ Optimal tuning.
In mechanical situations where the woofer and tweeter are placed very far apart, it is recommended that the polarity
of the tweeters be turned approximately 180°. In addition, clamp the marked tweeter cable from the positive
terminal “+” of the crossover and fasten to the minus connection “-“. Next take the unmarked tweeter cable from
the minus connection “-“ and fasten to the positive terminal “+”. A more enclosed sound is achieved by this
measure."

 

interesting...

 

so in a 5.5 gen with the stock locaitons (a pillar and door), does that constitute "very far apart"?

 

I thought that it was, so I wired them up that way.

 

well, they're definately not "close together" or next to each other. so yeah..

 

Looks like I need to change up my wiring...

 

Lol...... Looks like everyones gonna be experimenting.

Juan, I'm kind of lost at a certain part there... " In addition, clamp the marked tweeter cable from the positive terminal “+” of the crossover and fasten to the minus connection “-“. Next take the unmarked tweeter cable from the minus connection “-“ and fasten to the positive terminal “+”.

What does that mean? I'm assuming it is something germ specific?

 

Dude, that just means hook the + on the tweeter to the - on the crossover, and the - on the tweeter to the + on the crossover. Noob.