Tube Pre-Amps and polarity

[Atmasphere]

We've had a phase polarity switch on our preamps from their beginning in 1989. From it I have gleaned the following facts over the last 23 years:
1) 50% of all recordings are out-of-phase.
2) if you have a multi-channel recording- spotlight on the soloist, that sort of thing, IOW the mic technique is not true-stereo, you will not be able to hear the difference.
3) it does not matter the source, digital or analog.

 

[kach22i]

UPDATE: 8-years is a long time to update a thread, but this is deserving.

I just cleaned and lubed my tube preamp so while the system was down I decided to experiment with phase by flipping black and red speaker wire connections at the speakers and changed the phase.

I left my centrally located subwoofer located in front stage in between the two main speakers alone.

Subwoofer is already out of phase via IC's, it just sounded better that way in my less than one year old new room.

I have been struggling with a recessed center stage and vocals for the last four months since I hooked my system back up after the big move.

Made great strides with room acoustics, including first reflection points and removing stuff from front wall and get as clean/flat as possible.

Most recent changes of rake angle of main speakers and lowering subwoofer stance were mind blowing.

However, despite nearly daily changes and improvements I felt the front stage still a bit recessed, just not chronically deficient.

1. Ricky Lee Jones LP from 1979 song "Easy Money" is better.

2. David Gray CD from 2000 White Ladder is better.

3. The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Mono LP Time Out is better.

3 for 3 so far, so I'm sticking with this wiring out of phase thing to see if it's better than 50/50.