[bigshot]

It has to be mono, and it has to be just one instrument (preferably bass drum kick). Music is generally multiple instruments in stereo.

 

[esldude]

   
http://www.audiocheck.net/blindtests_abspolarity.php

Well I got 8 of 10.  Not quite enough to be sure it is for real.

 

[SilverEars]

Here, Tyll measured UA headphones that were out of polarity.  Not sure if it's related to this discussion.
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/headphones-united-airlines-flight-962

 

[arnyk]

I can't see how human ears could tell if something was push/pull or pull/push when we're talking about the tiny space of time of a sound wave.

I can see telling a difference when you set them right next to each other lined up.

 
What if the ear/brain has asymmetric amplitude response at some frequencies?
 
IOW, it has some influences that act like half wave rectifiers?
 
Then if a wave is itself asymetric, it will stimulate the ear differently, depending on whether you present it with one polarity or its opposite, no?
 
BTW, that's the right term - polarity, not phase.

 

[cjl]

Well that's an interesting bit of thread necromancy...

 

[jcx]

depends on you model of the forum - are we only a chat room or do some threads have useful enduring content, get found in search or when pointed to by other current threads topical discussion