Hi Friends
Infected by this forum and the sudden appearance of a bit free time have resulted in some system optimization today.
I finally soldered the naim plugs on my speaker cable (4mm copper), based on the orientation of the text on the cable, I discovered that one of my speakers had the + and - reversed.
So this was corrected today. I have a detached house, having two livings. My Amp is in the second living, speakers in the primary living. My speakercable is going through the wall and hidden. I don't know if my speakers are correctly plugged to the amp or reversed - since I can't fully trace the cables.
When I listen Kind of Blue, I hear the drums left and piano right. Sax seems to be standing in front of the piano and base next to the drums. Is that correct? - or should I switch the speakerplugs on the amp?
In general, the music is slightly improved: stereo image seems to be easier and the highs are bit more relaxed (listened flue + trumpet dominated music). Balance maybe. I have the impression that the very small disbalance between the speakers is gone, without turning the balance knob of my SN1.
In my humble opinion, this improvement could be more related to the + and - inversion than the naim plugs, but I have actually no clue what to expect, so any experiences of others are welcome.
Posted on: 27 August 2016 by Frank Abela
With NACA5, there is a ridge on one side of the cable which is not present on the other side. That ridge is usually used as the positive side of the cable. That should help you identify if the speakers are correctly cabled up.
Frank.
Posted on: 28 August 2016 by Mike-B
A trick I've used a few times when cable tracing & identifying polarity marking is a bit hit & miss is to use a 1.5v battery, AA or AAA. Remove the speaker grills so you can see the bass driver, disconnect the speaker cable (pull the plugs) at the amp end. Identify the cables positive & negative, then on one channel connect the battery pos-pos & neg-neg across the plug pins - watch the bass driver & note that it moves either back or forward (makes no difference which). Then repeat the process on the other channel & check that the drivers moves the same back or forward way as the other. If it does, you are in phase.
The better alternative & a lot more fun is (per Christoph) the colliwopter in The Wall.
Posted on: 28 August 2016 by Dave***t
IIRC on the stereo remaster of Kind of Blue, the drums are on the right for me. Buy isn't it easier (albeit less fun) to just put the balance control of the amp all the way over to one side, and see which speaker the sound comes out of?
Posted on: 28 August 2016 by Ardbeg10y
Thanks for the replies.
Speakers were connected the other way around. Corrected now. Was quite funny to do. Tried all suggestions and therefore knew that they were wrongly connected. Then, unplugged one speaker as proof, et voila! Had to switch them.
Having listened a bit more since yesterday, I hear differences since the cables were soldered to the plugs and the + and - were corrected. I have the feeling that the total is more in balance.
.