Joined: Thu May 8, 2014 17:34 pm
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The absolute polarity refers to the phase of the reproduced signal relative to the original signal, retaining the original polarity. In audio, a change in polarity refers to an equal phase shift of 180 degree at all frequencies, usually produced on one channel by reversing the connections of two wires. The ear is sensitive to the periodicity of a waveform at low frequencies; tests have shown that absolute phase can sometimes be heard by test subjects listening even under monaural conditions.

Since many audiophiles asked us about the Absolute Polarity all the time. I thought it may be helpful to list a handful of record labels and its prevalent absolute polarity. (complimentary of TAS)

Once you've sensitized yourself to the hallmarks of correct or, maybe even more so, of incorrect absolute polarity, it becomes comparatively easy to determine what's right and wrong for most recordings, and you won't need the list.

• 4AD .. .................................0
• 550Music ..........................0
• A&M ....................................0
• AcousricDisc.....................0
• Analogue Productions.....180
• Artful Balance ....................0
• ASV .....................................180
• Atlantic ................................0
• AudioQuest ........................0
• Bis .......................................180
• Blue Note ............................0
• Capitol .................................180
• Caprice ................................0
• Chandoo ..............................0
• Chesky .................................0
• Chess ...................................0
• Clarity Records ...................180
• Columbia .............................0
• Concord ...............................0
• Curb/MCA .............................180
• Cypress ................................180
• DCC Jazz ..............................0
• Delos .....................................180
• Deutsche Gramophone .....180
• Discovery ..............................180
• dmp ........................................0
• EAU ........................................180
• Elektra ....................................0
• EMI ..........................................180
• Epic .........................................180
• Everest ...................................0
• Fontana ..................................0
• Geffen .....................................0
• Giant .......................................0
• gfp ...........................................0
• Harmonia Mundi ...................0
• Hungaroton ...........................0
• Hyperion .................................0
• Impulse ..................................180
• JVC xrcd ..................................0
• Klavier .....................................0
• L'oiseau-Lyre .........................180
• Liberty ......................................0
• London ....................................180
• MA recordings ........................180
• Manhattan ...............................0
• MCA .........................................180
• Mercury Living Stereo ...........180
• Mesa ........................................0
• Metro Blue ...............................0
• Metronome .............................180
• Minor Music ............................180
• Motown Records ...................180
• Music Masters ........................0
• Nimbus ...................................180
• Nonesuch ...............................0
• Novus ......................................0
• Opus3 ......................................0
• Orfeo ........................................0
• Pangaea ..................................l80
• Perspective Records ............0
• Philips .....................................0
• Point Music ............................180
• Pointblank ..............................180
• Polar ........................................180
• Polydor ....................................0
• Pope Music ............................180
• Private Music .........................180
• RCA .........................................180
• Reference Recordings .........0
• Reprise ...................................0
• Riverside ................................180
• Ryko ........................................180
• Shanachie .............................180
• Sheffield lab ...........................0
• Silent Records ......................0
• Sonic Atmospheres ..............0
• Sony ........................................180
• Supraphon .............................0
• Telarc ......................................180
• Teldec .....................................180
• Vanguard Classics ..............180
• Verve .......................................0
• Virgin Records ......................180
• Vox ...........................................180
• Warner Brothers ...................180
• WEA ........................................180
• White Label ...........................180
• Wilma Records ....................180
• Wilson Audiophile ................0

If you have any more additions, please feel free to add them here.