Updates to “The List”

CD, SACD, and DVD Audio Label Polarity List

Update only of “The List” May 3, 2009 by The Polarity Project™

When a CD is made in normal (absolute) polarity (N), a non-inverting playback system will play the CD such that its compressions and rarefactions are in sync with the live performance. When a CD is made inverted, the compressions and rarefactions of a non-inverting playback system will be exactly out of sync with the live performance.

In my experience the major labels are more likely to have CDs of both polarities but they tend to be predominantly one polarity and the list includes some of the CDs that are not in a label’s usual polarity. When the relative polarity of all the tracks on a label’s CD sampler is the same, it’s usually indicative of the label’s polarity for all its discs, because the sampler is probably representative of many of the label’s offerings. It may appear that the polarity of some labels CDs is random, e.g. Verve is an example of an umbrella label that has sub-labels that may have different relative polarities but each sub-label’s CDs are usually the same relative polarity. Therefore, each sub-label is listed as if it’s a totally separate label. If the CD isn’t silver (aluminum), e.g. gold it will be noted.

So far the only reissued CD I’ve heard whose polarity differs from the original is the DAFOS CD recorded in 1984 by Rolling Thunder Productions and issued inverted in 1985 by Reference Recordings and reissued in polarity in 1989 by Ryko – Rykodisc – The World. However, it seems to me that most if not all of Reference Records vinyl records of the same music as their CDs are in polarity. I’ve heard other labels with reissued CDs that have the left and right channels reversed relative to the vinyl record. Some stereo microphone and multi-microphone feed CD reissues have one or more feeds remixed into different channels.

The polarity designations are as stated only if the majority of CD manufactures are making CDs in correct polarity (N), but if the opposite is true, then the polarity designations should be reversed (R) but the relative polarities of the listings won’t change.

The Phil Spector “Wall of Sound” (W/S) recordings are a special case because at both live and recorded performances Phil Spector wanted the lead vocalists and instrumentalists in absolute polarity (N) to spotlighted in bas relief against a 2-dimensional wall of sound he created by having everything else heard in inverted polarity (R).

I’ve discerned the polarity of thousands of CDs but don’t think it’s useful to list them all. I can only determine the polarity of CDs by listening. I want to list specific CDs and CD labels that are of special interest to music-loving audiophiles. Because as the Perfect Polarity Pundit in reality I’m not always perfect, the list is subject to revision, so please feel free to suggest corrections and additions.

I listen to CDs on a player with a volume control and remote control digital domain polarity switch connected directly to a non-inverting power amplifier over a minimum phase speaker system of my own design. I discern polarity by deciding which polarity sounds more like live music. For SACDs, DVDs, internet downloads, and vinyl records I add a preamplifier with a remote control polarity switch. And for vinyl records I use a linear tracking turntable with a strain gauge cartridge.

Updates to “The List” will be published both separately as “The List Update (with its date) and fully integrated into “The List.”

For information on the sonic effects of polarity you may read A Speculation on Perception of Detail at the link: http://www.UltraBitPlatinum.com/info.

Anyone who’s interested in a free listening session sharing some of their favorite music/my favorite music/using my CD player’s remote control polarity switch to hear polarity differences for themselves, please email: gslouis@gslouis.com or call 619-401-9876 7-days a week from 9AM to 11:45PM Pacific time and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.

A “The” at the beginning of a label name will be omitted for the purpose of alphabetizing but shown in parenthesis after the label name, e.g. (The).

  1. A World of Music N
  2. Allegro-Music.com – Columbia River Entertainment Group) N
  3. Appleseed Recordings N
  4. Arista = RCA – BMG N
  5. Astree Naïve N
  6. Blues Express Inc. N
  7. Caltex Records N
  8. Capitol Records – bel BIEM N
  9. Capitol Records, Inc. – Jasrac –Tosiba-EMI LTD. N
  10. CDJAY N
  11. Cema Special Markests – Sound Exchange N
  12. Collectables N
  13. Collectors’ Choice Music N
  14. Dennon Records/Nippon Columbia Co. Ltd. Monaural N
  15. Digital Mastering N
  16. Discos de Centroamerica, s. a. N
  17. Elektra – Musician N
  18. Eleven Seven Music N
  19. Eleven Thirty Records – Viewfinder Records
  20. Encore N
  21. Epic Red Ink N
  22. Flavor Unit Records – Vector – AEG Live –Creative Battery – A&M Records – Universal N
  23. Frenchkiss Records N
  24. Garland N
  25. Ginfline –Fineline Classical N
  26. Hanssler Classic N
  27. Harmo;nia Mu;ndi Production USA N
  28. Hindsight Records, Inc. N
  29. Inak – Gema N
  30. Innerscope N
  31. J Records – MBK Entertainment N
  32. Jahaza Records – Epic N
  33. Jasmine Records – CEDAR N
  34. Jazz Land (hybrid SACD only tested CD layer) N
  35. Lightening Rod Records N
  36. Live & Intensified! ReCoRDs N
  37. Living Era – ASV N
  38. Manteca World Music N
  39. Metro Blue – Blue Note – Finest Jazz Since 1939 – Yellow Tangerine –Philipsen N
  40. Metro Blue – EMI N
  41. Morgan Creek – Magnatone Curb –Island N
  42. Musician – Elektra N
  43. Nacional Records N
  44. Network America LLC N
  45. Omi Tone N
  46. Or Music - Jdub Records – Matisyahu – Epic
  47. Pair – BMG Music – RCA Special Products N
  48. Quintessence N
  49. Real Talk – Koch Entertainment N
  50. Reprise Warner Brothers N
  51. Sepia N
  52. Shangri*La – Entertainment- Artist –ada N
  53. Show Dog Nashiville -= TKO Artist Management – Universal N
  54. Signum Classics N
  55. Soul What Records N
  56. Sycuan Resort & Casino Minutes Away Miles Apart N
  57. Take Two Records N
  58. Team Love N
  59. Telarch Surround (hybrid SACD only tested CD layer) N
  60. The Gold Label-Honest Entertainment, Inc. N
  61. Touch and Go N
  62. Traffic Entertainment Group N
  63. Transmat N
  64. Troy990 - Albany N
  65. Turner Classic Music – Rhino Movie Music N
  66. V2 MH N
  67. Wem Records N
  68. World Circuit – Nonesuch N
  69. YepRoc Records N

Link to “The List