Tweeter polarity

[Horsee]

Hi,

 

Recently, i was told that my tweeter polarity is hook up wrongly by one audioshop.

The installer uses an M*Q gadget to verify the leds sequence.

 

However, when i approach my previous installer whom i have purchase & install the comp speaker & tweeter, he mention that the tweeter polarity cannot be trace??

 

My question:

1. Can the tweeter polarity be trace?

2. Does the wrong tweeter polarity affect the sound quality?

3. Will this have any impact to the setup over time?

 

Appreciate your expert advise. TIA

[Penthousepauper]

A much more elegant and quicker way to do this is by using a commercially available polarity checker, which uses a test CD. All you have to do is pop the CD in the head unit and hold the polarity tester in front of each speaker. The advantage here is that you can test for absolute polarity of the system on all the speakers, including tweeters. Polarity checkers are available from various companies such as Monster Cable. Retail for the Monster Cable polarity checker is about $120.

 

Sometimes, when speakers are not mounted close to each other (i.e., mids on the doors and tweeters up in the dash), reversing the polarity on tweeters or mids makes the system sound better because it makes up for phase differences due to distance. Try different combinations and see what sounds better.

 

 

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu98IZ0pHDbAA...icles.cfm?id=67

[Horsee]

Hi,

 

Yes, the installer did place an CD in my HU, and use the tester to check the polarity.

 

So is it normal if the polarty of the tweeter is found to be connected in reverse?

Should i go back to the previous installer & have him rectify the connection?

[Spinworkx]

Tweeter polarity will depend on a few criterias.

Firstly, what is the slope of the Mids and the tweeter.

Secondly, are teh left and right tweeter polarity correct? (Same with the mids)

 

Most people will use proper polarity for all their speakers and tweeters..that's the general rule of thumb.

And left and right speakers MUST have the same polarity.

 

As to Reverse or in phase...you can play around with it.

Some speakers sound better reversed, some in phase.

 

If your mids and tweets are both at -12db slope then preferably if the mids are correct, the tweets reversed and vice vesa.

 

Personally for me, my mids are reversed and my tweeters in phase. They sound better this way for my setup..Different setups work differently. Play around with it, just as long as both left and right are the same....and don't use both mids and tweeters in reversed together :)

[Horsee]

Thanks for yr advise.

 

Yes, both the left & right tweets are same polarity.

They are just reverse as compare to both L & R mids..

btw, i am using the alpine 171A comp speaker.

 

Me newbie in ICE, not sure how to play with the options & slope figure.

Edited November 26, 2007 by Horsee

[Penthousepauper]

The installer tested it, and didn't correct it? I would have asked him to reverse the polarity and listen and compare how it sound. Just pay him a couple of bucks for the job will do.

[Horsee]

Nope.

I was there to clarity some issue with my new alarm installed.

And he happen to check my sound system, and find the sq low.

 

i might drop by carsound to have it check out this sat.

[Approvel]

Hi,

 

Recently, i was told that my tweeter polarity is hook up wrongly by one audioshop.

The installer uses an M*Q gadget to verify the leds sequence.

 

However, when i approach my previous installer whom i have purchase & install the comp speaker & tweeter, he mention that the tweeter polarity cannot be trace??

 

My question:

1. Can the tweeter polarity be trace?

2. Does the wrong tweeter polarity affect the sound quality?

3. Will this have any impact to the setup over time?

 

Appreciate your expert advise. TIA

 

 

Polarity of tweeter can easily be trace by Polarity Phase checker, should be the one you mention which needs a cd to play and several LED lights to check.

 

It is rare to find a installer to install out of phase for customer as normally they will just reverse the phase through the hu if possible to try which phase is better. Most likely is they connect wrongly and trying to smoke you. Polarity of tweeter can easily be Traced.

[Kb27]

When I install my own component speakers, I would follow the correct polarity.

Wires are labelled, crossover is also labelled, and the speakers labelled for polarity, so you just need to follow them.

 

This will ensure that the sound coming out of the speakers are in-phase and doesn't cancel each other out.

 

For tweeter, "wrong" polarity is not as critical as bass.

 

Wrong polarity might affect imaging and sound muddled.

 

So, it's best to correct it.

 

The only tracing I know is the old fashioned way of physically following the cables.

[A881010]

Hi,

 

Recently, i was told that my tweeter polarity is hook up wrongly by one audioshop.

The installer uses an M*Q gadget to verify the leds sequence.

 

However, when i approach my previous installer whom i have purchase & install the comp speaker & tweeter, he mention that the tweeter polarity cannot be trace??

 

My question:

1. Can the tweeter polarity be trace?

 

Appreciate your expert advise. TIA

 

YES using a simple multitester.

[Horsee]

Hi,

Just an update to share, after short visit to carsound yesterday.

The Alpine 171A comp speakers are connected in correct polarity on the crossovers.

 

The phase diff is design in such manners, similar to JBL speakers, as feedback by them.

 

Thank you all for your advise.

Case close.

[Spinworkx]

Yep..there is no rule that says all speakers must be in correct polarity.

Depends on the brand and the speaker really.

 

The important thing is to ensure all are in correct phase first, then slowly play around with the phasing after that to see which sounds better....but since you're running passive, just connect as it is, the manufacturer most probably already adjusted the phase in the crossover itself...

 

Only for those running active then changing it via the HU will help see which is better...there are just that many combinations :) actually only 2 combo...