Conrad-Johnson LP260m mono-
block power amplifier Owner’s Manual
8
Getting The Most From Your LP260m mono-block power
amplifier
In a system of commensurate high quality components, the
conrad-johnson LP260m mono-block power amplifier offers an
unparalleled level of sophistication and refinement in music
reproduction. To get the best performance out of any audio
system, there are a number of important details that must be
attended to.
Absolute Phase
Musical notes are heard through the ear’s response to waves of
alternating rise and fall of air pressure. Musical transients are
almost exclusively positive: that is, the initial effect is a rise in
pressure. The ear is capable of distinguishing these positive
transients from the musically unnatural alternative of a negative
transient (an initial fall in air pressure). In terms of your stereo
system, these transients are created by your loudspeakers. If the
speakers respond to musical transients by first moving out, they
are creating a rise in pressure, and the system is said to be phase
correct. If they respond by moving in, they create a fall in pressure
and the system is said to be phase inverting. Each component in
the stereo system either preserves the phase of the incoming
signal, and is said to be phase correct, or inverts the phase and is
said to be phase inverting. It is unimportant whether an individual
component is phase correct or phase inverting, as long as the
system as a whole is phase correct. This will be the case if the
number of phase inversions is even (or zero).
The LP260m mono-block power amplifier is phase correct (non-
inverting). If your system has an odd number of inversions, (for
example, if you have a phase inverting preamplifier) then you must
add one phase inversion. This is conveniently done by reversing
the positive and negative connections to your speakers (be sure to
reverse both channels). If you are not sure about the phase of
every piece in your system, you can establish correct absolute
phase by careful listening. When the system is in correct phase,
transients will be noticeably cleaner and more sharply defined. The
effect is especially apparent on plucked string sounds. A final
warning - not all recordings are phase correct (including some
“audiophile” recordings), so listen to several before concluding your
investigation of absolute phase.
