Front Midbase Driver Polarity Switching?

[PollyCranopolis 10+ year member]

Wondering what the circumstances would be, if any, for wiring one of the two midbass drivers of a component set out of phase. Assuming they are located in the stock door speaker locations (ex. 92' Honda Civic Sedan). Would it be wise to try this with the passenger or drivers side?. 6 1/2 inch component set, CDT CL 61's. I'm having real trouble getting any of the midbase up to my ears from the low speaker mounting locations. There isnt much midbass to begin with without the doors being properly sealed. I'm trying to make up for it by using a alpine eq and raising the mid frequencies slightly. Heard discussions involving polarity switching before. As of currently, the speakers are wired pefect in polarity. Wondering if this would have anything to do with correcting the problem. More than likely I will break down and try to seal the doors better. Any ideas for deadening material that can be picked up at a local hardware shop like Lowes? I probably wont have this car for more than a couple more years, and am looking for cheap and effective solutions to obtain some midbase now. ANy suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanx!

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[PollyCranopolis 10+ year member]

BTW. Tweets located by mirrors, power is from RF 851X 4 channel...

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Polarity switching between midbass drivers in a 2way setup is not my cup of tea. You'll end up losing output likely as you are interfering with the stereo signal.

However In a 3way front setup, there are benefits in flipping the phase in say the passenger side midrange.

If your tweets are located over a foot away from the drivers you may want to try reversing the polarity of your tweeters.

As far as midbass performance/output, theres no dancing around it- deaden your doors.

 

[PollyCranopolis 10+ year member]

Got interested in the subject from this related thread: http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153637&highlight=polarity

"Have you tried running the drivers side mid out of phase? A lot of cars will image better wired out of phase. There is a (i believe IASCA) cd that has a track with a woman speaking in phase and out of phase. If its more centered with the out of phase track you will need to wire the speakers out of phase to get proper imaging."

"A lot of cars with both mids in phase will have a really smeared image where you cant pinpoint the vocals. Sometimes wiring them out of phase will focus the image more to the center and get a better perceived image. IMO wiring the tweet out of phase just attenuates it and doesnt really affect imaging unless you have it being pulled to one side due to the tweeter volume."

This leads me to my next question. Are there any products I can purchase at say, my local Lowes department store which would be good material for sound deadening?

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Got interested in the subject from this related thread: http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153637&highlight=polarity
"Have you tried running the drivers side mid out of phase? A lot of cars will image better wired out of phase. There is a (i believe IASCA) cd that has a track with a woman speaking in phase and out of phase. If its more centered with the out of phase track you will need to wire the speakers out of phase to get proper imaging."

"A lot of cars with both mids in phase will have a really smeared image where you cant pinpoint the vocals. Sometimes wiring them out of phase will focus the image more to the center and get a better perceived image. IMO wiring the tweet out of phase just attenuates it and doesnt really affect imaging unless you have it being pulled to one side due to the tweeter volume."

This leads me to my next question. Are there any products I can purchase at say, my local Lowes department store which would be good material for sound deadening?

Alot of the things regarding reversing polarity that you are reading involve imaging/MIDRANGE properties...not midbass performance as you are trying to improve. Thats the problem with a woofer playing both midbass/midrange in a 2 way setup-its a compromise...playing with one thing affects the other.

People use Peal n Seal do deaden. I've used it in my brotherss car- to me its not effective. But I'm sure other will claim its great.

 

[PollyCranopolis 10+ year member]

Perhaps making a baffle from mdf, using non-drying molding clay to seal around the edges? Whats this I hear about putting a special enclosure/material directly behind the mid speaker? I'm working with the doors of a 92' Honda civic. Paper-thin. What about the window breaking the door seal when they are raised/lowered?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Try messing with the polarity of the subs as well. It could well be that you are getting a lot of cancellation thru the transistional frequencies. Does your HU have time alignment? If so playing with that will allow you to sync up the midbasses to minimize cancellation.

 

[Hebrew Hammer 10+ year member]

Alot of the things regarding reversing polarity that you are reading involve imaging/MIDRANGE properties...not midbass performance as you are trying to improve. Thats the problem with a woofer playing both midbass/midrange in a 2 way setup-its a compromise...playing with one thing affects the other.
People use Peal n Seal do deaden. I've used it in my brotherss car- to me its not effective. But I'm sure other will claim its great.

couldn't agree more...putting any driver that plays midbass freqs will 97% of the time give you less output....and is a total no-no in a 2way....take the time and damp'n you doors and add as much mass as u can...

 

[dogears 10+ year member]

Try switching them you may find the midbass will clear up and sound much better. I have found that if it does not image well wired in phase that usually everything sounds better wired out of phase including midbass. If you lose any volume at all I doubt you would notice it. You may even gain some volume if you are getting cancellation. You've only got to swap 2 wires so try it and tell us what happens.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Deaden your doors, you won't believe the difference.....it will be night and day. It doesn't sound like a polarity issue, because that will not influence how much midbass is put out actually, just the timing in which the sound hits your ears.

http://www.sounddeadenershowdown.com

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

honeslty people, you are all overlooking one thing.

he is using CDT CL-61's.

i had a pair of CDT CL-62's in some kickpods i made a while back. and they gave absolutly no midbass. on top of being in non-deadened doors and not properly imaged, i would say that is your big problem.

and trying to switch the polarity - for future refrence, just go to your amp, and flip the + and - wires. and you have reversed polairty of that speaker

imo, theres alot for you to do