First, I wish to extend my sincere sympathies to Bob and his family for their loss.
Second, I wish to repeat the concluding comment of my first post in this thread, dated 2/11/2017: “… based on the experiences that have been reported in this thread I don’t doubt or question that Bob’s cables are outstanding performers, whatever the reason may be.”
Third, regarding the statements about technical matters that Geoff has made in his recent posts in this thread, what he has said is correct. And perhaps it will minimize the back and forth arguments that may ensue on Monday if I elaborate further.
It should first perhaps be added to what Geoff has said that the **extremely** slow “drift velocity” of electrons that occurs in a cable in response to application of an electrical signal, and that occurs **in conjunction with** the near light speed velocity at which the signal propagates, is superimposed upon random electron movement that occurs at what is known as “Fermi velocity.” That random movement of electrons occurs in a conductor regardless of whether or not a signal is present, and is vastly faster than drift velocity, but vastly slower than the speed of signal propagation. See this reference:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmmic.html
So what does the electrical signal, that propagates at near light speed, consist of? As Geoff stated it is an electromagnetic wave. And like electromagnetic waves that propagate in free space, such as light and radio waves, it consists of photons. See the following Wikipedia writeup for a description of what a photon is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon
Simply put, a photon is the smallest elemental unit of electromagnetic energy. It has the properties of both a particle and a wave. For example, light exhibits wave properties under conditions of refraction or interference. Particle properties are exhibited under conditions of emission or absorption of light. And although photons are most commonly thought of in the context of light, they are what comprise any kind of electromagnetic wave, including visible and invisible light, radio signals, X-rays, gamma rays, microwave radiation, and any kind of electrical signal, whether transmitted through the air or through a cable. Including audio signals.
In the case of an electrical signal transmitted through a cable, however, the electromagnetic wave does not travel within the conductor. What travels within the conductor are electrons, moving **very** slowly. The electromagnetic wave travels at near light speed just outside the conductor, through the insulating material. Which is why, as I said in my post dated 2/11/2017, the near light speed velocity of the signal depends on what is known as the “dielectric constant” of the particular insulation.
Finally, how does one reconcile the very slow drift velocity of electrons within a cable with the associated near light speed propagation of the signal? The way to think of it is that the application of a given voltage at one end of a cable will cause a very slow drift of electrons into or out of that end of the cable, depending on the +/- polarity of the voltage at any particular instant. A corresponding slow drift of **different** electrons will occur at the other end of the cable, as well as at all points in between. The movement of the electrons at the end of the cable that is opposite the end at which the signal is applied will be delayed from the corresponding movement of the different electrons at the end to which the signal is applied by the amount of time it takes for the signal to propagate the length of the cable, travelling at near light speed.
That is my understanding of these matters, at least. Regards,
-- Al
