Reversing the Hf leads?

**cradeldorf** · November 4th, 2011, 05:01 PM

Does it hurt to run the speakers with the HF leads reversed? for some reason I think they sound better reversed? but I wonder if it can damage the diaphragm doing it?

**Altec Best** · November 4th, 2011, 06:22 PM

No it won't ! Altec actual does some reverse polarity to phase their speakers. Example ( phasing the LF to the HF)in their VOTT's.

GM · November 4th, 2011, 11:32 PM

Music is AC, so changing polarity just changes which way the VC moves initially when it 'feels' a signal, i.e. outward if positive, ergo inward if negative, causing a 180 deg phase reversal.

GM

**cradeldorf** · November 5th, 2011, 12:35 AM

Well I can say this I ran through 4 movies tonight with them switched around and I'm in love. awesomely sweet sounding.
Thanks Guys.

**SJ David** · November 5th, 2011, 12:52 PM

As mentioned above the hookup positioning does no harm physically to the driver. It does alter the system response, though. That is what you are experiencing. To what extent depends upon a lot of factors. The change in polarity introduces a different wave phasing. How these phase angles mix at the crossover point is what matters. The combination of driver phasing has the effect of cancelling output around the xover point (a suck out) or adding output (a hump) in the extremes. The designer will tweak the final xover design compensating for the phase characteristics to get a more flat response around the xover point. Are you using an ALTEC xover designed for the 604? Wondering if you had the connection out of spec originally and the change pulled it back into spec?

**cradeldorf** · November 5th, 2011, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by SJ David

As mentioned above the hookup positioning does no harm physically to the driver. It does alter the system response, though. That is what you are experiencing. To what extent depends upon a lot of factors. The change in polarity introduces a different wave phasing. How these phase angles mix at the crossover point is what matters. The combination of driver phasing has the effect of cancelling output around the xover point (a suck out) or adding output (a hump) in the extremes. The designer will tweak the final xover design compensating for the phase characteristics to get a more flat response around the xover point. Are you using an ALTEC xover designed for the 604? Wondering if you had the connection out of spec originally and the change pulled it back into spec?

No SJ, I'm using the GPA N1600 Crossovers for the 16 ohm 604's. They weigh about as much as a ford Pinto.

Thanks for the clarity on the crossover point / Polarity thing I get it now.

**gearfreak** · November 5th, 2011, 11:54 PM

Can be worth checking the HF phragms to see if they were hooked up 'correctly' / as you expect them to be.
Carefull though!

If markings are not clear, the battery test (1.5v or less w/resistance imo, not 9v) can be used to double check.

IME you cannot go by the ancilary molded lettering (e.g. 'altec lansing') on the phragm clamp ring.