G
ETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR PV11
The conrad-johnson PV11 offers an unparalleled level of sophistication
and refinement in music reproduction, but it cannot transform an inferior
stereo system. Only high quality amplifiers and loudspeaker systems
will be capable of fully revealing the capabilities of this precision instru-
ment.
Given a system of high quality components, there remain a number of
important details which must be attended to.
ABSOLUTE PHASE
Musical notes are heard through the ear’s response to waves of alter-
nating rise and fall of air pressure. Musical transients are exclusively
positive: that is, the initial effect is a rise in pressure. The ear is capable
of distinguishing these positive transients from the musically unnatural
alternative of a negative transient (an initial fall in air pressure). In terms
of your stereo system, these transients are created by your loudspeak-
ers. If the speakers respond to musical transients by first moving out,
they are creating a rise in pressure, and the system is said to be "phase
correct". If they respond by moving in, they create a fall in pressure and
the system is said to be phase inverting. Each component in the stereo
system is either phase correct or phase inverting (including the source
and speakers-these are normally phase correct). It is of no conse-
quence if an individual component is phase inverting, as long as the
system as a whole is phase correct. This will be the case as long as the
number of phase inversions is even (or zero).
THE LINE STAGE OF THE PV11 INVERTS PHASE OF ALL INPUTS
(including phono). If your system has an odd number of inversions, then
you must add one phase inversion. THIS IS CONVENIENTLY DONE BY
REVERSING THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CONNECTIONS TO
YOUR SPEAKERS (be sure to reverse both channels).
If you are not sure about the phase of every piece in your system, you
can establish correct absolute phase by careful listening. When the
system is in correct phase, transients will be noticeably cleaner and
more sharply defined. The effect is especially apparent on plucked
string sounds. A final warning-not all recordings are phase correct
PV11 and PV11L Owner’s Manual 9
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