Just wanted to add: Concerning "phase" (aka "polarity"), even if you knew everything about this topic it would make no difference in reality if every time you move your head 6" left/right/up/down your ears are assaulted with phase shifts due to a schizophrenic room response.

Knowledge will only get you 1/10th of the way there. Good ol' cashola (and a LOT of it !) can solve these problems, and you need not read a single paragraph about "room acoustics."