G
etting The Most From Your Premier 140
In a system of high quality components, the conrad-johnson Premier
140 offers an unparalleled level of sophistication and refinement in mu-
sic reproduction. To get the best performance out of any audio system,
there are 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 almost exclu-
sively 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 pres-
sure). In terms of your stereo system, these transients are created by
your loudspeakers. 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 either preserves the phase of the incoming signal,
and is said to be phase correct, or inverts the phase and is said to be
phase inverting. It is unimportant whether an individual component is
phase correct or phase inverting, as long as the system as a whole is
phase correct. This will be the case if the number of phase inversions is
even (or zero).
The Premier 140 is phase correct. 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 speak-
ers (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 sys-
tem 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 (including
some “audiophile” recordings), so listen to several before concluding
your investigation of absolute phase.
Premier 140 Owner's Manual
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Summary of Contents for Premier 140
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