Checking Phase On The Satellite Loudspeakers - Niles SWA-500M Installation Manual

CHECKING PHASE ON THE SATELLITE LOUDSPEAKERS

Loudspeaker wire has two conductors. On applications with satellite loudspeakers, one conductor
is attached to a component's negative (–) terminal, while the other is attached to a component's
positive (+) terminal. Usually, the wire is marked for your convenience, but the marking can be
done in the following different ways:
• Stripe on one wire
• Ribbed area you can feel on one conductor
• Different colors of metal wire on each conductor
• Fabric strand or string wound into one of the conductors
Of course, there are some wires that appear completely identical. So be careful, or you might make
a connection mistake. If you do, one satellite loudspeaker will be playing "out-of-phase" with the
other loudspeaker. A pair of out-of-phase loudspeakers works against each other, and the sound
of the two playing together will be lacking in bass and sound "phasey." If you suspect the sound is
not right, and you cannot see any markings on the wire, try this simple test:
1. Stand halfway between the satellite loudspeakers
2. Play some music with the amplifier or receiver set to Mono
3. Listen to the richness of the bass and the loudness of the sound
4. Turn off the amplifier and reverse the connections on one (Left or Right) of the
SWA-500M Loudspeaker OUT binding post pairs
5. Repeat the listening test with the same volume control setting. When the sound has
a richer bass and is slightly louder, the satellite loudspeakers are working together or
"in-phase"
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI
17