Absolute polarity in headphones?

[Al Rogers]

I just discovered while testing a new mic pre that the polarity switch makes a big difference in how my voice sounds in my headphones. Apparently the electronic sound can be in phase or out of phase with the sound transmitted by bone conduction.

If using a single mic to record a vocal is it important to maintain absolute polarity? In other words, is there a downside to inverting the polarity of the vocal chain to get a better sound in the headphones? Is there a headphone amp that allows you to reverse the polarity of only the headphones?

-Al

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by Al Rogers

I just discovered while testing a new mic pre that the polarity switch makes a big difference in how my voice sounds in my headphones. Apparently the electronic sound can be in phase or out of phase with the sound transmitted by bone conduction.

If using a single mic to record a vocal is it important to maintain absolute polarity? In other words, is there a downside to inverting the polarity of the vocal chain to get a better sound in the headphones? Is there a headphone amp that allows you to reverse the polarity of only the headphones?

-Al

Nope, you'll be ok. As long as it feels good for you.

This is actually one of the reasons why there is a polarity reverse switch on the first channel of the Langevin headphone system.

Langevin Way More Me picture

Not many people know why its there, but this is one of the reasons!... shhh its a secret!

[Al Rogers]

Thanks! I needed the reality check.

That was a trippy experience flipping the mic preamp phase switch and all of a sudden getting a nice full vocal sound in my cans. What a difference!

I've been Googling but there isn't a lot of info on the web. AES is offering a PDF download of a paper on the subject. To a non-member like me it's $20. Guess it is something of a secret if it's for sale like that.

I checked the Langevin system link and there's that phase switch right next to the vocalist fader. Looks like a sweet system. Thanks again for the info.

-Al