CD, SACD, and DVD Audio Label Polarity List

Update only of “The List” 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).

143 Records – LAVA Alantic hyper CD recordings  N

25 Years BMG – Will Ackerman, Hearing Voices (Guitar) N

429 Records  N

Accent  N

Ace  N

ACTO Records – Atlantic & Atco Remasters  N

Ag – Columbia  N

Air Gospel  N

Alligato Records  N

Angel Classic Musicals  N

ANTI, Inc.  N

Arbors Records – Arbors Jazz  N

Arrow Records  N

Art & crafts International  N

ARTizen Music Group  N

AS disc  N

ASV – Academy Sound and Vision Ltd.  N

ATMA clasique  N

Aware Records – Columbia  N

b N 021  N

Bandit Records – Welk Music Group  N

Bear Family Records  N

Bedroom Classics  N

Bis Records AB  (tested hybrid SACD – CD layer only)  N

Black Beauty Records  N

Black River Records  N

Blackground Records – Universal Records  N

Border Community  N

Bridge  N

Broadway Angel  N

Calvin Records  N

Canyon  N

Carrot Top  Records  N

Caryout – Borough Media  -Redeye Distribution  N

Castle Tutse mcps  N

Category 5 Records = Red  N

CBUJ Recordings  N

Classic Blues  N

CMR Cross Movement Records –Provident- Integerity – Sony BMG  N

Col Legno Contemporary  N

Collectors’ Choice Music  N

Columbia Legacy – Lagacy Rhythm and Soul Series  N

Compadre Records  N

Compass Records  N

Criss Cross Jazz  N

Custard 60 Music  N

Daptone Records  N

Dare2 Records  N

Decaydance  N

Def Soul – The Dej Jam Music Group – A Universal Music Company  N

Deutsche Grammophon (CD layer of hybrid SACD)  N

Diesel Only Records  N

Donkey  N

Double Time Records  N

DS – Direct Source Special Productions Inc.  N

Dualtone  N

Earth Work  N

Easy Star Records  N

EASYDISC  N

Ecdenklang –The Eclectic-Music Company  N

Ever Loving  N

Fabric Records  N

Fat Possum Records – Epitaph  N

Fervent Records – Curb – WB [Warner Brothers]  N

Firm Music  N

Forefront Records  N

Forefront Records  N

Gammon  N

GGS Gaither Music group  N

Giant  N

GNP Crescendo Records  N

Gospel (HDCD)  N

Gospo Centric – Fo Yo Soul Productions  N

Guitar Musi  - Tom Sheeley, Guitar  N

GuitarSounds  N

Heads Up – a division of Telarc International Corp  N

Heads Up International  N

Hear Music  N

Heart Beat  N

HEARTS of SPACE  N

Henry Street Records  N

High Windy Audio  N

Higher Octave Music  N

Hightone Records  N

HIP-O Records – APE Audio Project Earth – APE Vision  N

Hollywood Records  N

Hug Bug Records  N

iNo Records – Columbia  N

Integrity Music – Columbia  N

ipo  N

j Records – Stiefel Entertaninment N

Jahaza Records – Epic  N

Jasman Records  N

Jazzed Media  N

Jive – Zomba Recording Corp.  N

JMG  N

JMT Body and Soul – Polydor K.K.  N

K11 Rocks  N

Kinetic Records – Treacle  N

Kitchen Table Records  N

Kitty-yo  N

KO Productons  N

Koch Records  N

Kopaesthetics  N

Laboratorie DECON  N

Laface – Zomba  N

Laface Records  N

Last Gang – Vice  N

Latent Recordings – ZOE Records  N

LAVA independiente enhanced CD  N

Light Records  N

Locust Music  N

Lost Highway  N

Lost Highway  N

Lost Highway a Universal Music Company –Mercury Records Def Jam Recordings  N

MagicMusic N

Makoche Records  N

MAPL- Shirley Eikhard Music Inc.  N

Marco Polo  N

Mat Hat Tan  N

Metal Blade Records Inc.  N

Midas Records  N

Milking Bull Records  N

Miramax Films – Nonesuch  N

Mister’s Music –SOD –Zomba  N

Mlan – WEA  N

Moment! Records – Meyer Sound  N

Monitor Records  N

Morning Sky Productions  N

Mountain Home Music Company  N

Music Maker  N

Naïve  N

Neil Sedaka Music  N

Network Music Group  N

New * West Records  N

New Albion Records Inc.  N

New Jazz – RVG Remasters – Long Playing Microgroove  N

New Line Records  N

NewDoor Records  N

NewTown Music Group  N

Nozzle Records  - Distributed by Vanguard Records A Welk Music Group Co. N

O + Music  N

OM Records  N

Omni tone  N

Onitor  N

Open Wide – Monument by Artistry – Columbia  N

Opera D’ORO – Allegro Corporation  N

Orgin Records  N

Other Minds Records  N

Overbrook Music/Intersocpe Records  N

PD Mute  N

Pet Rock – Astralwerks  N

Pope Music  N

Prestige  N

Profil -  Edition Gunter Hanssler  N

Provident  N

Putumayo World Music  N

RAS Records  N

RCA Legacy  N

Rebel Ink Records  N

Red Ink  N

Reference Gold by Inersound  N

Rendezvous  N

ReR  N

Restless Records  N

Rhino – Smash Arts  N

Rhino – WB (Warner Brothers)  N

Righteous Babe Records  N

Riverside [Riverside Records] – Original Jazz Classics  N

Roadrunner Records  N

ROC-A-Fella Records  N

Rock Bridge Music  N

Roost  N

Rosshashauna Music/Excellent Classical Song (BMI)  N

Rough Guides  N

Rough Guides – World Music Network  N

Rough Trade Records – World’s Fair  N

SAVANT  N

SCI Fedelity Records  N

Scott Williams  - SWCS-001 (a two CD set)  N

Secret Sun Recordings  N

Shanachie – Spirit feel  N

Shout – The One  N

Shout Records  N

Signature Sounds  N

Silva Screen Records  N

Silver Lining Records  N

Silvertone Records  N

Simply Red  N

SKG Music Nashville LLC  N

Slip N Slide – Def Jam Recordings  N

Sony Classical –Shalit  N

Sony Legacy DSD  N

Srarathan Records  N

Staggs Family Records  N

Stones Throw  N

Swave – Best of Koffi Olmide  R

Tall Tree Records  N

The ACT Company – ACT Music + Vision  N

The Sparrow Corporation  N

Tim Janis Ensemble  N

Time Life  N

Tooth and Nail – solidstates  N

Tooth and Nail Records  N

Topic Records  N

Toucan Cove – Label X – Madacy  N

Trojan  N

Trustkill Records  N

Ubiquity – Cubop  N

Ultimatum Music, llc.  N

Universal Republic Records  N

Upstairs Records – Big Gun Records  N

Usher – Usher Audio Technoloty  N

VAI Audio  N

Vice 679  N

Vice –Vice Music, Inc.  N

Vocation  N

War  N

Warp Records Limited  N

WDR  N

Word (entertainment, llc.) Warner/Curb Company  N

World Music Network – Compilation N

XL Recordings Ltd.  N

YMC Records  N

“The List“

CD, SACD, and DVD Audio Label Polarity List

Update only of “The List” 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).

143 Records – LAVA Alantic hyper CD recordings  N

25 Years BMG – Will Ackerman, Hearing Voices (Guitar) N

429 Records  N

Accent  N

Ace  N

ACTO Records – Atlantic & Atco Remasters  N

Ag – Columbia  N

Air Gospel  N

Alligato Records  N

Angel Classic Musicals  N

ANTI, Inc.  N

Arbors Records – Arbors Jazz  N

Arrow Records  N

Art & crafts International  N

ARTizen Music Group  N

AS disc  N

ASV – Academy Sound and Vision Ltd.  N

ATMA clasique  N

Aware Records – Columbia  N

b N 021  N

Bandit Records – Welk Music Group  N

Bear Family Records  N

Bedroom Classics  N

Bis Records AB  (tested hybrid SACD – CD layer only)  N

Black Beauty Records  N

Black River Records  N

Blackground Records – Universal Records  N

Border Community  N

Bridge  N

Broadway Angel  N

Calvin Records  N

Canyon  N

Carrot Top  Records  N

Caryout – Borough Media  -Redeye Distribution  N

Castle Tutse mcps  N

Category 5 Records = Red  N

CBUJ Recordings  N

Classic Blues  N

CMR Cross Movement Records –Provident- Integerity – Sony BMG  N

Col Legno Contemporary  N

Collectors’ Choice Music  N

Columbia Legacy – Lagacy Rhythm and Soul Series  N

Compadre Records  N

Compass Records  N

Criss Cross Jazz  N

Custard 60 Music  N

Daptone Records  N

Dare2 Records  N

Decaydance  N

Def Soul – The Dej Jam Music Group – A Universal Music Company  N

Deutsche Grammophon (CD layer of hybrid SACD)  N

Diesel Only Records  N

Donkey  N

Double Time Records  N

DS – Direct Source Special Productions Inc.  N

Dualtone  N

Earth Work  N

Easy Star Records  N

EASYDISC  N

Ecdenklang –The Eclectic-Music Company  N

Ever Loving  N

Fabric Records  N

Fat Possum Records – Epitaph  N

Fervent Records – Curb – WB [Warner Brothers]  N

Firm Music  N

Forefront Records  N

Forefront Records  N

Gammon  N

GGS Gaither Music group  N

Giant  N

GNP Crescendo Records  N

Gospel (HDCD)  N

Gospo Centric – Fo Yo Soul Productions  N

Guitar Musi  - Tom Sheeley, Guitar  N

GuitarSounds  N

Heads Up – a division of Telarc International Corp  N

Heads Up International  N

Hear Music  N

Heart Beat  N

HEARTS of SPACE  N

Henry Street Records  N

High Windy Audio  N

Higher Octave Music  N

Hightone Records  N

HIP-O Records – APE Audio Project Earth – APE Vision  N

Hollywood Records  N

Hug Bug Records  N

iNo Records – Columbia  N

Integrity Music – Columbia  N

ipo  N

j Records – Stiefel Entertaninment N

Jahaza Records – Epic  N

Jasman Records  N

Jazzed Media  N

Jive – Zomba Recording Corp.  N

JMG  N

JMT Body and Soul – Polydor K.K.  N

K11 Rocks  N

Kinetic Records – Treacle  N

Kitchen Table Records  N

Kitty-yo  N

KO Productons  N

Koch Records  N

Kopaesthetics  N

Laboratorie DECON  N

Laface – Zomba  N

Laface Records  N

Last Gang – Vice  N

Latent Recordings – ZOE Records  N

LAVA independiente enhanced CD  N

Light Records  N

Locust Music  N

Lost Highway  N

Lost Highway  N

Lost Highway a Universal Music Company –Mercury Records Def Jam Recordings  N

MagicMusic N

Makoche Records  N

MAPL- Shirley Eikhard Music Inc.  N

Marco Polo  N

Mat Hat Tan  N

Metal Blade Records Inc.  N

Midas Records  N

Milking Bull Records  N

Miramax Films – Nonesuch  N

Mister’s Music –SOD –Zomba  N

Mlan – WEA  N

Moment! Records – Meyer Sound  N

Monitor Records  N

Morning Sky Productions  N

Mountain Home Music Company  N

Music Maker  N

Naïve  N

Neil Sedaka Music  N

Network Music Group  N

New * West Records  N

New Albion Records Inc.  N

New Jazz – RVG Remasters – Long Playing Microgroove  N

New Line Records  N

NewDoor Records  N

NewTown Music Group  N

Nozzle Records  - Distributed by Vanguard Records A Welk Music Group Co. N

O + Music  N

OM Records  N

Omni tone  N

Onitor  N

Open Wide – Monument by Artistry – Columbia  N

Opera D’ORO – Allegro Corporation  N

Orgin Records  N

Other Minds Records  N

Overbrook Music/Intersocpe Records  N

PD Mute  N

Pet Rock – Astralwerks  N

Pope Music  N

Prestige  N

Profil -  Edition Gunter Hanssler  N

Provident  N

Putumayo World Music  N

RAS Records  N

RCA Legacy  N

Rebel Ink Records  N

Red Ink  N

Reference Gold by Inersound  N

Rendezvous  N

ReR  N

Restless Records  N

Rhino – Smash Arts  N

Rhino – WB (Warner Brothers)  N

Righteous Babe Records  N

Riverside [Riverside Records] – Original Jazz Classics  N

Roadrunner Records  N

ROC-A-Fella Records  N

Rock Bridge Music  N

Roost  N

Rosshashauna Music/Excellent Classical Song (BMI)  N

Rough Guides  N

Rough Guides – World Music Network  N

Rough Trade Records – World’s Fair  N

SAVANT  N

SCI Fedelity Records  N

Scott Williams  - SWCS-001 (a two CD set)  N

Secret Sun Recordings  N

Shanachie – Spirit feel  N

Shout – The One  N

Shout Records  N

Signature Sounds  N

Silva Screen Records  N

Silver Lining Records  N

Silvertone Records  N

Simply Red  N

SKG Music Nashville LLC  N

Slip N Slide – Def Jam Recordings  N

Sony Classical –Shalit  N

Sony Legacy DSD  N

Srarathan Records  N

Staggs Family Records  N

Stones Throw  N

Swave – Best of Koffi Olmide  R

Tall Tree Records  N

The ACT Company – ACT Music + Vision  N

The Sparrow Corporation  N

Tim Janis Ensemble  N

Time Life  N

Tooth and Nail – solidstates  N

Tooth and Nail Records  N

Topic Records  N

Toucan Cove – Label X – Madacy  N

Trojan  N

Trustkill Records  N

Ubiquity – Cubop  N

Ultimatum Music, llc.  N

Universal Republic Records  N

Upstairs Records – Big Gun Records  N

Usher – Usher Audio Technoloty  N

VAI Audio  N

Vice 679  N

Vice –Vice Music, Inc.  N

Vocation  N

War  N

Warp Records Limited  N

WDR  N

Word (entertainment, llc.) Warner/Curb Company  N

World Music Network – Compilation N

XL Recordings Ltd.  N

YMC Records  N