Why do some manufacturers reverse preamp polarity in the first place?

douglas_schroeder1,806 posts02-28-2019 10:54am

Very polarizing topic.

>>>>>Absolutely!

A point that hasn't been mentioned is that when the setting of the polarity switch that is provided on some components is changed, in addition to the polarity of the music signal being inverted the sonics of the component could conceivably change, at least slightly, depending on the specific design.

I'd expect that to not be the case with a fully balanced design, such as Ralph's (Atmasphere's), since polarity in such a design can be changed by simply interchanging two signals somewhere in its internal signal path.  But with a design having an unbalanced internal signal path it is not necessarily that simple, and in some designs I wouldn't be surprised if sonic side-effects were to occur when the position of the switch is changed.

Perhaps in some cases that is one example of how easy it can be in audio to attribute a perceived difference to the wrong variable.

Regards,
-- Al 

A question about the internal sonic effects in Al's theoretical 'some' preamps. Now if the actual electronics were creating the change. Then it would 'always' be one position which gave the apparent sort of signal. And the other position also would have a specific signal sound.  
So if the differences do not follow the switch, but rather follow the source polarity.. Then the suggested problem almarg discussed does not exist in the preamp in question.                     
If on the other hand it did follow the switch, then yeah your preamp polarity switch is messed up.   
I have several preamps into the main one. And one of them inverts. (Conrad Johnson ACT2) so with care adjusting the controls with  the same signal to several, I can switch the main preamp fro the Threshold FET TEN to the ACT 2. inverting with the selector switch, let alone the Bryston polarity switch. No matter how it is done. the results match.

Many a polar scholar posting peculiar picayune pieces today

Seems someone is suddenly showing the spirit of Spiro Agnew?