SP395 SoundPro Audio Integrator
Form7492
Operation Manual
82
Speakers Menu
The Speakers Test menu provides tests used to test speakers, sound distribution equipment and
speaker cables. However, the tests are not limited to these applications as the tests can be used
for other similar applications. The Speakers tests include:
Speaker Polarity
Speaker Distortion
Impedance Meter
Impedance Sweep
Cable Tester
The Speakers menu showing the available test functions.
Speaker Polarity
Correct loudspeaker polarity is critical for achieving proper integration of all the speakers in an
audio system. The sound waveform reproduced by the loudspeakers should follow the polarity of
the sound wave that energized the recording microphone. For example, the beat of a drum should
move the loudspeaker cone outward on playback. A single out of phase driver in a loudspeaker
can degrade the performance of the entire audio system.
Determining proper polarity by listening to the speaker output is very difficult and inaccurate,
and observing cable polarity does not guarantee correct loudspeaker polarity.
The SP395 Speaker Polarity test provides a simple, reliable way of determining absolute polarity
of all loudspeaker drivers. It applies pulses to the amplifier and loudspeakers and compares the
polarity of the reproduced pulses picked up by the microphone to the polarity of the applied
pulses.
The polarity of all the loudspeaker drivers in an audio system can be quickly checked by driving
all loudspeakers simultaneously and positioning the microphone closer to one loudspeaker driver
at a time.
Note
: Since the SP395 uses XLR pin 2 hot, if your system is wired pin 3 hot, you will likely
get incorrect results! A simple way around this is to use an unbalanced output, either the
RCA output or the 1/4” output with an unbalanced 1/4” plug.
