Testing speaker phase question??

[stevened]

Hi there, first time asking a question.

I've read many of the threads on this site and really enjoy them. Manyof them talk about getting your hands on a Radio Shack SPL meter and using it to test to see your speakers are in phase. Well, I couldn't find one in Toronto, so on a business trip to Texas I picked one up. I've finished reading the user guide, it all makes sense... so now, well... how do I tell if my speakers are in phase? I flew 3000 miles, put down my $30... now what?

Love your site, thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[Johnd]

Welcome to the forum stevened!

Run a test tone and then adjust the phase switch until you obtain the highest reading on the spl. Cheers.

 

[stevened]

Hey there Johnd, Thanks for your help with this.

Ok, so "adjust the phase switch until you obtain the highest reading" tells me what the current reading is. If I'm trying to test something, don't I need to compare my results to something else to see if the reading I'm currently getting is correct? I guess what I'm asking is, if I get a reading of 63db on the spl from my front right speaker. What do I compare that reading to so I can say 'yes, that speaker was installed properly and is in phase'?

Thanks again.
Steve

 

[j_garcia]

??? You don't need to know the phase of your mains or adjust it. If your wiring is correct and you have correctly set the distance in your receiver's setup, your speakers are in phase. It will be glaringly apparent if you have a speaker that is not hooked up with the correct polarity.

I think what Johnd might be referring to is the phase of a sub with adjustable phase, in which case, you would do what he said - adjust it until it gives you the best reading and that will likely be the setting you want.

 

[Johnd]

Thanks j_garcia. Yes, I was referring to phase adjustment in subs. And as j_garcia wrote, it will be patently obvious if your mains are out of phase. In other words, phase adjustment is really only an issue with subs...the only phase adjustment to make for all other speakers is to corect the polarity on the speaker wires. Cheers.

 

[stevened]

Thanks for the clarification guys,

I was thinking about mains and surrounds, I'll look at the sub next. I'm sure if my sub is adjustable.

Thanks again guys, I'm a big fan of the site.

Steve

 

[Jedi2016]

If your wiring is correct...

That's a big "if".. hehe. I did some quick-and-dirty tests the other day, and swapped three of my speakers that were out of phase. Today I rewired the entire system (new entertainment center), and made sure that the speaker wires were properly installed on the reciever. Then found out that those three speakers I had adjusted a few days prior now had to be adjusted again.. apparently, the first time I wired it up, they were flipped on the receiever end. That was a while ago.. hehe.