Loudspeaker Polarity - Funktion-one F1201 User Manual

7.2

Loudspeaker polarity

Loudspeaker cones and diaphragms create sound by moving in and out to modulate air pressure. It is
important that all loudspeakers in a sound system move in the same direction when driven in unison. In
other words, they should all have the same polarity.
Same polarity ("in phase")
Loudspeakers with the same polarity, will give:

Good bass extension

Good bass impact

Good "between the speakers" stereo imaging with a smooth central transition

Solid centre-panned vocal imaging
Opposite polarity ("out of phase")
Loudspeakers with opposing polarities, will give:

Poor bass extension

No bass impact

Poor "between the speakers" imaging. Just hard left or hard right "distant" effects

No solid central vocal image. Centre-panned vocals will sound indistinct or thin and, again, the
"distant" effect will be evident.
It is usually fairly easy to ensure that your loudspeakers are wired to the same polarity if all your
loudspeakers are being driven via identical signal paths and equipment. Simply check that the same
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Fig 7.2-1
Fig 7.2-2
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