Question about reverse phase and subs
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Question about reverse phase and subs
I recently installed a new sub/amp combo in my C5. In my Pioneer z110bt subwoofer setup, there's a "reverse phase" setting. My initial impression is that I like the sound better. The bass seems maybe not as deep, but it seems tighter to me, and that's how I like it. I know everything was wired correctly. Is there any increased potential for damage to the speaker driver by leaving the phase reversed?
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
Great choice to try it
What you have accomplished is to bring the timing of the bass closer to that of the speakers since they are closer to you. You are now running a setup that is actually more in phase than out
I have had to use many tricks in some installs to get the bass dialed in like that. It will always sound lower in level but far more accurate. The sound of out of phase bass has fooled many as it sounds louder which most think is better, trick is to get it in phase and turn up the gain or the mids down, etc.......to get the amount you want per song, album, etc.. as most music is not equally recorded.
Or, find a happy medium and live with it, I prefer a bass gain control I can reach easily, some music just needs it pounding, others not so, some recorded with way to much, some not enough, etc...
Have fun!
Rick
What you have accomplished is to bring the timing of the bass closer to that of the speakers since they are closer to you. You are now running a setup that is actually more in phase than out
I have had to use many tricks in some installs to get the bass dialed in like that. It will always sound lower in level but far more accurate. The sound of out of phase bass has fooled many as it sounds louder which most think is better, trick is to get it in phase and turn up the gain or the mids down, etc.......to get the amount you want per song, album, etc.. as most music is not equally recorded.
Or, find a happy medium and live with it, I prefer a bass gain control I can reach easily, some music just needs it pounding, others not so, some recorded with way to much, some not enough, etc...
Have fun!
Rick
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Very cool, Rick. Thank you. To my ears, it sounds way better - more musical - the kind of bass that I wanted to begin with. I know what sounds good (to me, at least) and doesn't, and I absolutely LOATHE boomy, sloppy, splashy, over-the-top bass. What really gets me going is good, tight, deep, musical bass, and reversing the phase in the sub seems to deliver exactly that. 
I just wanted to make sure that I'm not causing any harm to the speaker driver by leaving it that way for now. 
I just wanted to make sure that I'm not causing any harm to the speaker driver by leaving it that way for now.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
I just wish more would figure this out, I try to help as much as I can, Tuning is a very important part of a good install, the more capacity to tune the harder it can be sometimes but much better when finally done
I am still trying to find the real sweet spot for tweeter installs, I have some in my doors, 2 sets in the pillars and adding one more so I can swap between them(one set is taped on and two permanently locations after my original set just did not work well with the normal location I would use, nice but not good enough)
This has been one tough car to get right but I will, hopefully today as I have some fellow enthusiast customers that have been exceptionally patient while I sort this out(major delay was not able to work on the install due to knee surgery, finally getting well)
I have done it once but going back to playing with the phase on every single speaker but now with varying crossover slopes, gain levels and added in an eq.
Have a great time with your system
Rick
I am still trying to find the real sweet spot for tweeter installs, I have some in my doors, 2 sets in the pillars and adding one more so I can swap between them(one set is taped on and two permanently locations after my original set just did not work well with the normal location I would use, nice but not good enough)
This has been one tough car to get right but I will, hopefully today as I have some fellow enthusiast customers that have been exceptionally patient while I sort this out(major delay was not able to work on the install due to knee surgery, finally getting well)
I have done it once but going back to playing with the phase on every single speaker but now with varying crossover slopes, gain levels and added in an eq.
Have a great time with your system
Rick
