Verifying speaker phase

When proper polarity is not maintained, the speakers play at the opposite ‘time’ from each other, or out of phase. The result is audio lacking bass and vocals that sound thin or distant.

If you suspect the sound is not right and you cannot see any markings on the wire to verify polarity is correct, try this simple test:

1. Sit in the normal listening position for the system.

2. Play some music with your system set to mono. Listen to the music and observe the audio. Does the bass sound full and even with the other audio? Do the vocals sound centered and even in volume?

3. If any of the answers are no, follow steps 4 and 5.

4. Turn off your amplifier and reverse the connections for one of the speakers.

5. Repeat your test at the same volume level. When the sound has the loudest and best-sounding bass and the vocals are centered and clear, your connections are correct and in phase.