Its not a problem, per se. Many just hook up their equipment and can like what they hear. Its just that they do not know it can sound even better.
As I said, so-called 'high end' equipment is often poorly engineered so such problems are not surprising.GeneZ said:
What you do not realize is the AC in America is not run the same way as commonly run in Europe. This is what is causing the confusion. I spoke last night with an electrical contractor. He explained that in America we have a system that requires polarity. But, not as you know it to be. I also contacted an audio expert and he said the same thing, but in more detail.
I realise perfectly well that US and European practice differs. There is no confusion at this end. You have around 120V, we have around 230V. In both cases one conductor is somewhere near ground potential (we call it neutral) and the other is around 120V or 230V (we call it live or line). In the UK we have plugs which cannot be inserted incorrectly; some of Europe has similar arrangements. As the fuse should be in the line conductor, swapping polarity requires rewiring the mains transformer inside the equipment.
Anyway, I don't know why you are making such a fuss about such a trivial thing. In good equipment it should not be necessary.
Anyway, I don't know why you are making such a fuss about such a trivial thing. In good equipment it should not be necessary.
The fuss was? I asked a question because the way the three prong plug inserts into the outlet and IEC socket has the neutral and hot reversed. No big deal. But some thought I was idiotic to speak of AC polarity. Apparently, they are not enlightened as you are.
It was the confusion between mains polarity (live and neutral) and AC, in this case, after the transformer which has no polarity. You started the thread referring to your 12AC PSU the output of that has no polarity that is what people were correctly telling you
Not my words, but now that you mention it, yes, it IS idiotic to speak about AC polarity.
FWIW some in this thread , correctly talked about *other* problems, such as capacitance to ground, and that is real, acceptable and measurable.
Only you keep taking such comments as if they confirmed your theory/dogma.
Well, they do not, they speak about a different phenomenon.
And your only "proof" is that you *claim* to hear "a sound quality change".
If you ask me, placebo effect or confirmation bias.
I remember reading sometime ago in a book about valve amps how it was beneficial to equalise the resistance of transformer secondary windings, I can't remember precisely what the benefit was though, does anyone know?
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But that is not how it worked out. If I inverted the plug at the AC outlet? The component that was connected to the AC adapter with would show a change with the polarity. It would also sound different as well.
I contacted a knowledgeable friend. He is an audio engineer. Here is how he explained the problem we were having here...
Yes, live and neutral, neutral essentially connected to ground, I don't see why you refer to that being a problem. That is the way it is. AC from the transformer is not connected to ground, don't you see that?
That's not my problem. The problem is when the positive and neutral are not ending up where they supposed to be designated for, and become reversed inside the component. For some reason, measurable voltage on the chassis goes up when the correct orientation has not been established.
If it made no difference in sound quality? I would not be concerned. If I reverse the orientation of one AC adapter powering one component in my system I can hear a difference in sound. Having all your ducks lined up on the pond is when your system is functioning to its full potential as far as this issue is concerned.
There is no positive! Is the concept of AC is difficult to understand?
What is the problem when the ducks don't line up, are they going to drown?
What is the problem when the ducks don't line up, are they going to drown?
I understand your perspective. You live in the Netherlands. The US grid works differently than yours. And, we use terms as to define what is needed to be organized. Did you read post # 109? We do not refer to it as having a "positive." That is only found on batteries.
I have installed and adapted equipment in the US.
<< We do not refer to it as having a "positive." That is only found on batteries.
Why use the term in post#112?
<< We do not refer to it as having a "positive." That is only found on batteries.
Why use the term in post#112?
I'm sorry, this appears to me to be wilful ignorance, I am not going to try to help you any more
It was a mistake. I am not able to edit it at this point. It should have read "hot" and neutral.
I do not have need to use these terms on a regular basis like some here are accustomed to. I came here because I realize that some people are quite knowledgeable and might have been able to help me understand what I was experiencing in my wrongly worded OP.
Yet, it was not wrongly worded according to how Americans refer to AC power in regards to power plug orientation. Try Google and search ... AC polarity for audio .
I just did that search. Here are the stats..
[ About 621,000 results (0.85 seconds) ]
Many call it polarity over here, and its understood without a hitch in audio circles.
I never got my answer because some here were too busy putting down this commoner as if he were begging for crumbs. I had a question, that if worded differently for Europeans? Could have long been answered long ago and everyone would have moved on...
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Ok, just so there is no misunderstanding, I was not referring to your last post about the use of the word positive, I am referring to your persistent blinkered approach to the clear help that has been given you by many people here who have shown remarkable patience. If you chose to misunderstand that, so be it.
It is more important that you understand what you are doing.
From post#109 "Do not flip the polarity". Isn't this exactly what you are doing? You are reversing the way the AC was designed to be connected to a unit. Also, in most of Europe, we use a phase and neutral just like in the US.
I tried the Phase-neutral switch and I couldn't hear a difference. I am able to unplug and plug the mains without the amp switching off. It all sounded the same to me. Even with the player on pause and the volume at 10, there wasn't any hum. My problem could be that I didn't expect it to sound any different.
From post#109 "Do not flip the polarity". Isn't this exactly what you are doing? You are reversing the way the AC was designed to be connected to a unit. Also, in most of Europe, we use a phase and neutral just like in the US.
I tried the Phase-neutral switch and I couldn't hear a difference. I am able to unplug and plug the mains without the amp switching off. It all sounded the same to me. Even with the player on pause and the volume at 10, there wasn't any hum. My problem could be that I didn't expect it to sound any different.
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