Invert with 9y--1d: Is it just me?

[boleary]

I am finding a HUGE difference with vocalists (Eva Cassidy, Diana Krall, Patty Griffin, Alanis Moressette,etc) when Invert is or is not ticked. I'm having to preview the cd to decide whether to tick or untick Invert. When the phase is correct the vocals are STUNNING. It seems a little weird, though, that this setting has to be frequently changed. Anyone else out there had a similar experience? Is this a result of the DAC or the recording itself. or too much fun in the 1970's??

[PeterSt]

I think others (keen on using this) will have a say also, but to my experience it is -somehow- very much related to the preciseness (jitter ??) of the software, and even much more on the DAC (similar). So, at times I hardly perceive a difference (DAC-1) and at other times (DAC-2) it's a matter of WOW vs. bleh. I don't keep on switching however and I usually focus on cymbals (this is just because I think they are the most important, which is subjective).

It is a strange phenomenon, and while people blame the recording (not paying attention, switching absolute phase, switching absolute phase of one mike only, which I do NOT believe), I think it is all 100% related to phase linearity in the first place, and how things turn out to be in the room (not the listening position per se).
Try to imagine how fragile this all is and that no 2 frequencies will arrive in the same phase at your ears (think of the position on the slope of the wave) BUT however it arrives is correlated and must be consistent. Turn this all upside down and you may have a consistent mess.

I once wrote an essay about positioning (like GPS works) and I have created a system for that myself. This works with phase detection and several antennas detecting a difference in phase on the one frequency, and therewith can calculate (relative) distance. Switch the phase of the transmitters, and I'm sure you will find yourself somewhere else than this tweaked GPS will tell you. Same with our sound ... I guess.

Btw, 50% of DACs turn the absolute phase.

Peter

[boleary]

Not sure I followed all in your reply, but thanks for continuing to educate me. It seems to me that understanding whats going on with this and learning to manipulate it so that the correct phase is automatically detected and used would be a huge step forward. I cannot tell you how significant the difference is here when the phase is correct. What I am hearing/experiencing  cannot be simply a matter of personal preference. Everything is so much more transparent and clear when the phase is correct and the vocals are just so much more"present" that you'd swear the performer is in the room. It's really unbelievable!

[PeterSt]

It seems to me that understanding whats going on with this and learning to manipulate it so that the correct phase is automatically detected and used would be a huge step forward.

You may not be saying that, but 2 years ago or so I tried to detect the proper phase, but failed. The code is still in there awaiting more brightness, and I guess I know a lot more by now what could make it happen, but it is a tough job which is related to ringing.

Maybe I'll dive into that again. But maybe not now.