Subwoofers may sound better or worse when you turn the switch marked “phase” behind them. You don’t know. It makes us wonder if all the speakers in a room need to be in the same time. When it comes to subwoofer phase, which is normal or the other way around is the question of the day. Then, you’ll have to test and try. You need to figure out what works the best for you.
It can be hard for people to figure out how to tell if their subwoofer is in or out of phase.
There are two types of phase: normal and reverse. In this article, we’ll explain which is better: normal or reverse.
What Is Subwoofer Phase?
Subwoofer phase is the time of the audio waveform or signal. The peaks and valleys of an audio transmission are represented by what we call sine waves.
The speaker may delay receiving electrical impulses from the wires by adjusting the phase control of a subwoofer. Assists in the speaker’s ability to better merge with other speakers. However, if the subwoofer is playing alone, the phase shift is completely inaudible. Nonetheless, at high frequencies, the sound impact is not as subtly noticeable. The changes are readily audible.
Look closely behind your subwoofer and you’ll see a switch called phase, which controls the output of your sub in degrees 0 and 180. These two stages may be changed at any time by pressing a button on your controller. The normal phase of a subwoofer is represented by a value of 0 degrees, while the reverse phase is represented by a value of 180 degrees.
Phase control is changeable in certain subwoofers. There are other possibilities in addition to the standard 0 and 180-degree rotations. As a result, you have complete control over the subwoofer’s phase, which ranges from 0 to 180 degrees. Just play around with it and see what works best for you. Also check out How to Fix a Blown Subwoofer.
What Is Phase Control On A Subwoofer?
What is the subwoofer’s phase control, and how does it operate, given that you know what phase is?
To put it another way, you may delay the incoming signal by adjusting the phase control on your subwoofer. It is common for phase control to function between zero and 180 degrees. Some subwoofers contain a phase switch that allows either 0 or 180 degrees of phase change.
Most subwoofers have a phase control knob with a range of 0 -180, allowing for the widest possible range of phase adjustments in tiny increments to provide the greatest possible sound.
Adding the necessary delay to your subwoofer signal can help you better integrate the loudspeakers in your home theater system, depending on the phase of your speakers.
What does the range of 0 to 180 degrees signify, exactly?
In other words, this number affects how much of a change in the wave’s time occurs. In general, the greater this value, the more displaced or delayed the wave seems to be.
How do you tell if your subwoofer is out of phase?
Listen for a low, thin bass.
As a first step, phase cancellation is most noticeable in low-frequency sounds, particularly at or below the crossover frequency This is because the out-of-phase impact is more pronounced at lower frequencies, resulting in a reduction in bass and even distortion of stereo image. When attempting to discover phase difficulties, you need to pay attention to what you’re hearing. Out-of-phase subwoofers often provide a weak signal with little or no bass resonance.
One of the most prevalent issues is the bass traveling throughout the mix instead of originating from a single point. As you’ll see, it’s tough to pinpoint a song’s phase only by listening. You’ll need to pay attention to the music and have a basic knowledge of how low and high frequencies affect the sound.
Set your system to a greater frequency range and listen for phase difficulties to make this procedure simpler.
This is possible due to the fact that a more gradual and higher-frequency crossover makes phase shifts easier to hear.
Listen and Vary
It’s also possible to alter the sub’s pitch while listening from the primary listening location, which is another easy technique When the bass is at its loudest, the ideal phase setting will be found.
Use a SPL or dB Meter
People who aren’t acquainted with sound frequencies may use this strategy. It’s possible to test the sub’s output using pink noise using an SPL meter (Sound Pressure Level meter).
In most cases, it is best to pick a setting that produces the most pink noise when both the subwoofer and main channels are playing at once. This doesn’t even need the purchase of a high-priced meter. There are a plethora of SPL and dB meters available for download.
Choosing Subwoofer Phase: Normal or Reverse?
A subwoofer’s normal or reverse phase is easy to grasp. Let’s take a look at the stages of a subwoofer first before making a decision. Furthermore, how does it impact audio quality?
We must go further to discover the optimal phase setting for subwoofers.
Normal Phase (0 Degree)
The phase is normally adjusted to normal when you purchase a new subwoofer. Subs are said to be in-phase when they’re in a normal phase. That signifies that the entering signal is in sync with the other speakers in the room, which is a good thing.
Now, you may be curious about what occurs when they sync up. The opposing movement reduces or cancels out some of the noise.
Is there a relationship between subwoofer phase and sound quality?
Yes. Speakers with regular phase relationship and primary speaker have the greatest disparity in response at low frequencies. It’s clearer, but there’s more potential of distortion in the normal phase because of this. It’s exactly the opposite in reverse. The noise level has risen to an all-time high.
Why Would You Prefer the Normal Phase?
There is no delay in sending data from the main channel to the subwoofer if you’re playing it in the typical phase. Your listening experience will be seamless and uninterrupted if you follow these guidelines.
That’s fantastic, isn’t it?
In terms of soundproofing, you won’t have any issues with your home theater experience. This may not be the end of your listening experience, though.
There are several options available to you. That being said, here is a selection of speaker systems that will complete your listening experience.
Why Won’t Normal Phase Work for You?
Normal phase will be affected if your speakers are positioned at different distances around the room.
At various instances, you may hear a pause in the sound. As a result, the wavelength of subwoofers is disrupted by other speakers (particularly satellite speakers). Moreover, the speaker will produce distorted audio.
As a result, moving the speakers might have a negative impact on noise cancellation. Switching the subwoofer phase arrangement to reverse phase could save you some time and aggravation.
Reverse Phase
A subwoofer in reverse phase is one whose phase is adjusted to 180 degrees. The cables that transfer signals from the main channel swap polarity in this reverse subwoofer phase. As a result, there is a lag in the signal transmission.
Cone beat is reversed and the synchronization is out of phase with the other speakers as a consequence. The subwoofer driver’s backside is also subjected to the pounding of the air.
What happens if the subwoofers aren’t in phase with each other?
It’s just the opposite of the typical subwoofer phase in terms of what it does. When the cones of the other speakers in your room move out, the subwoofer’s cone will move in. Both ways are true. A lot of the noise suppression is reduced by this feature. Resulting in a more distinct and stronger sound.
Why Would You Prefer the Reverse Phase?
The reverse phase is ideal if you have a large space and want your music to have the proper bass. The reverse phase may also be used if you are planning a configuration with rear backs or front heights.
In order to use reverse-phase, your sound system must be set up with equal distances between speakers. It’s a phase that’s very much like the rest of it. Make sure there are equal distances between each speaker in a room before you begin speaking. Additionally, the speakers must face one another at all times. Distortion could result otherwise.
The subwoofers’ wavelength in a reverse phase complements the other speakers in a room’s frequency range. Zero interruptions and less noise cancellation are a result of this method. As a result, the subwoofer’s sound is both louder and clearer.
Since the reverse phase speaker is better integrated with the rest of the arrangement, this is why.
Why Won’t Reverse Phase Work for You?
It’s not only about playing music loud and clear that’s in the reverse phase. Several ways might reverse phases damage your speakers. Subwoofers, particularly large ones, are susceptible to distortion due to transmission delays. In a comparison of 15-inch and 18-inch subwoofers, the 18-inch subwoofers are more susceptible to distortion.
Reverse phase may also damage your speakers in unexpected ways. An issue with reverse piston movement might arise from dust in the speaker’s input jack. Because of this, speaker cleaning is essential.
In addition to cleaning the speaker, the cabinet must be cleaned as well. When it comes to wooden cabinets, make sure they’re ventilated and dust-free.
It is also possible that the port on your speaker is defective. As a result, playing in reverse phase results in louder noises. It is common to hear a noticeable delay in the transmission, particularly in the 20hz-100hz region.
Set the switch to mid- or upper-level bass after passing the subwoofer phase test. That’s somewhere above the 100 Hz mark.
Keep in Mind
If you’re using more than one speaker, you don’t want to go back and forth between phases. In a surround system, be sure that both subwoofers have same amplitude and phase at all times. Subwoofers may be saved by cleaning them once a month.
Factors
There are a few things to consider while deciding between the regular phase and the reverse phase. The following are examples:
- The direction in which the speaker set-up is facing,
- How big the room is
- How many speakers are there
- The last consideration should be what you have learned from your own life experiences.
Verdict
The normal phase of a subwoofer is perfect for those who don’t want a lot of low-end punch. In addition, it is ideal for a little space. In particular, since the sound does not need to travel. Your speaker won’t have to deal with any signal issues, either.
As an alternative, the opposite phase will result in crisper and louder music for your listening pleasure. And it’s the finest choice for a space with a volume of between 3000-5000 cubic feet. The only thing to be concerned about is the signal delay and distortion potential.
Now, which phase do you prefer: 0 or 180 for your car’s subwoofer?
It’s advisable to experiment with both subwoofer stages before deciding which one to use. You’ll be able to see which one suits your needs the best this way.
We’ll leave it at this: how you listen is entirely up to you. Between subwoofer phase 0 and 180 degrees, you’ll have to discover your ideal spot.
FAQs
well, we are almost at the end of the article. and here we are still trying to help you with answering some most asked questions from internet.
How do I get the most out of my subwoofer phase and positioning?
A great way to get the most out of your subwoofer is to turn the volume all the way up on your subwoofer, then play around with the sound levels until you find the settings that work best for you.
Why would a subwoofer be out of phase?
Subwoofers work on a push and pull principle that is controlled by the polarity of the signals they get. Positive signals are sent to the speaker, and they move the woofer in front of the speaker, which makes it sound better In this case, the woofer moves backward. The woofer will be out of phase if there are too many negative or upside down signals.
Why are my subwoofers pulsing?
Most of the time, this is an issue with the amplifier and your woofer. Your speaker wires must not short out, especially at the point where they connect to each other.
What is polarity on subwoofer?
People use the term “polarity” to show whether a signal is good or bad. Inverting polarity means that what was positive is now negative, and the other way around. This means that, if you connect your speaker wires in the opposite direction, you will change the polarity of them.
What phase should a subwoofer be set to?
There isn’t a right answer here. In case you don’t like how it’s working for you, you can just flick the switch to change it to the other way around.
Do inverted subwoofers sound better?
Most of the time, yes, the sounds of the reverse phase subwoofers are more clear and louder. And the bass is a lot more powerful than in the normal phase of the music. This is because the waves made by the reverse phase don’t interfere with the waves made by the other speakers.
Freelance tech journalist & author of soundboxlab.com …Read More
