Application and Technical Support for Audio Precision APWIN Users

Polarity Test Procedure

This utility determines the signal polarity between the Analog Generator Outputs and the Analog Analyzer Inputs. A common error in manufacturing of loudspeaker systems is to connect voice coils with reversed polarity. Even when all drivers in a multi-way system are phased correctly with respect to one another, it is possible to have the interior wiring to the external connection terminals of the cabinet reversed. An individual driver reversed will cause a dip in frequency response near the crossover frequency to the adjacent driver, since the two speakers are then producing acoustical output of nearly identical amplitudes but out of phase. An entire system wired out-of-phase would presumably be undetectable in a monaural application, but unacceptable in stereo systems.
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With minor adjustments, this procedure can be run as a stand-alone test, or it can be incorporated into other test setups. The procedure can test a single path, or it can test stereo channels. Equipment required is DSP or Dual-Domain version of System One, System Two, or System Two Cascade, and a microphone if you are testing acoustic paths such as loudspeakers.

Theory
The generator is programmed to send the waveform shown in Figure 1 to the DUT. Notice that approximately one-third of the waveforms energy is above the baseline, while two-thirds is below. The analyzer detects the positive and negative peaks, then determines where the bulk of the energy lies. From this determination, the analyzer can detect whether a channel is inverted.
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Figure 1. Polarity waveform

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1.5 1.25 1 750m 500m 250m V 0 -250m -500m -750m -1 -1.25 -1.5 0 2m 4m 6m 8m 10m

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sec Figure 2. A two-channel test, showing one channel normal and one channel inverted with noise added.

If random ambient noise or even extreme noise is added to the waveform signal, the measurement will not be effected, since the noise contributes approximately 50% of its energy to each phase of the waveform, causing no change to the average. The inverted waveform shown in Figure 2 demonstrates this.

As the procedure runs, it will reconfigure the test as needed to perform the measurement. This includes turning the Analog Generator Output on and off.
3. A Status window (see Figure 3) will indicate the

Implementation
To use this utility:
1. Set the Analog Generator Output

test frequency and the OK and Cancel buttons will be disabled until the measurements are complete, then the Status window will indicate whether the selected channels are inverted. You can then select an additional frequency to repeat the process or press Cancel to terminate the procedure.

Channel Selections, Configuration and Amplitude, then set the Analog Analyzer Input and Impedance settings as desired to route a test signal through your device. This may be done to any test configuration. These settings are then used by the procedure when configuring a test to determine channel polarity. Simply having the Analog Generator channel A and or B output selected will provide information for the program to determine if the polarity is to be calculated for that channel. procedure and select the desired frequency in the dialog box of Figure 3. If the desired frequency is not in the list box just type in the value in Hertz and press the Tab key to add it to the list. Once you have the frequency selected, click the OK button to perform the test.

2. Load and run the POLARITY.APB

Figure 3. Typical Polarity Test dialog box. Note that the latest information is added to the top of the Status window.

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TECHNOTE 27Polarity Test Procedure

TN27-0149-01-T-0101-5C