Best sounding polarity at CH P IEC inlets?

[engadin]

Many components sound better or worse depending where Live and Neutral arrive at the component‘s IEC socket.
Many countries‘ AC plugs define where L and N are.
Having a Schuko plug, chances are 50% having it „right“, as somehow this design, patented 1932 in Germany, does not define L and N.
Astonishing, as it comes from a country brimming with regulations.
This is why my t+a DAC has clear instructions on it’s backside where L and N should arrive.

So …should L and N be as shown below with CH P components to sound their best?
In case you want to check without disconnecting there are AC polarity checkers like the Supra.

Thx a lot for your input!

Cheers,
Ulrich

 

[DasguteOhr]

Many components sound better or worse depending where Live and Neutral arrive at the component‘s IEC socket.
Many countries‘ AC plugs define where L and N are.
Having a Schuko plug, chances are 50% having it „right“, as somehow this design, patented 1932 in Germany, does not define L and N.
Astonishing, as it comes from a country brimming with regulations.
This is why my t+a DAC has clear instructions on it’s backside where L and N should arrive.

So …should L and N be as shown below with CH P components to sound their best?
In case you want to check without disconnecting there are AC polarity checkers like the Supra.

Thx a lot for your input!

Cheers,
Ulrich

Take a multimeter and set it to, say, 200 volts AC. Then disconnect all signal cables from the device. Only the power cable. Then connect the test probe directly to the grounding contact of your power outlet, and the other probe to the grounding point of your device, e.g., the outer ring of an RCA socket. Turn on the device. A voltage reading will be displayed. Twist the main plug and measure again. The lower reading indicates correct polarity. This ensures that fewer equalizing currents flow between connected devices. (lower hum)
Tutorial

 

[engadin]

“Take a multimeter and set it to, say, 200 volts AC. Then disconnect all signal cables ….”

Indeed, that is how it should be done. Agreed.
I somehow missed this procedure before installing my CH P gear in my system.
Being at home typically a week per month, I would really like to avoid this procedure.
I would rather spend my scarce time for hifi with listening to, say Esbjörn Svensson Trio or …

So I am asking here.

 

[DasguteOhr]

“Take a multimeter and set it to, say, 200 volts AC. Then disconnect all signal cables ….”

Indeed, that is how it should be done. Agreed.
I somehow missed this procedure before installing my CH P gear in my system.
Being at home typically a week per month, I would really like to avoid this procedure.
I would rather spend my scarce time for hifi with listening to, say Esbjörn Svensson Trio or …

So I am asking here.

If you perform the procedure correctly once, you'll never need to do it again. If your power strip or sockets have a very low-impedance ground connection, you can save on accessories like grounding blocks if you do it correctly. This way, potential differences between devices via RCA ground hardly need to be compensated.
Exsample power strip

rather listen to music, save that for rainy days

 

[Alrainbow]

Have you tried using switches to adjust each output polarity ?
this comes down to topology and transformers windings
there is no standard of transformer windings direction
The goal of the additionally added switch’s allows to simply flip one at a time for each device and listen.

 

[engadin]

Helpful Hans has sent a pic of a CH P supplied mains cable, showing clearly where L and N should be.
Thanks!

Considering how they build their components and Swiss CH P being ummm … Swiss I don’t think they will have sloppy deviations from that

Thanks to Hans and all others contributing here!