When is unequal, equal?

Hey, I remember nsgarch in some good arguments, this isn't one of them! If speaking physics, timing characteristics are determinied by inductance only. If talking audio, then we are taking moving your head a few inches to one side of center. Oh well..

steve

Not inductance only! Cable topology, and wire composition (not just material, but the stranding and shape are big factors) determine how fast the different frequencies propagate.

What most folks forget, is that an audio signal is a wave in a metallic (usually) medium. And although electricity (electric potential) may transmit at the speed of light in a theoretically perfect medium (ever hear of "super-cooled super conductors"?) an electric "signal" does not, and is very much medium dependent. What do you think the doctor is looking for when he/she checks your reflexes? Wants to see if your cables are deteriorating.

Oh gosh! Maybe it was my tubes and not my cables!!

Nsgarch, you are correct in saying that different frequency voltages changes travel at different speeds in different cable compositions, BUT, the differences are only apparent (even theoretically) at RF levels, i.e. a signal at 10 megahz might be delayed vis a vis a 1khz by some very small amount, but would be inaudible anyway.
Frequency variations and Phase problems due to capacitance and inductance are however more detectable at listening frequecies, but then, again, the difference in lengths of the same cable would have to be large indeed.
'Smearing' if there is such a thing, is not caused by the construction of the cable or materials used, but by the inherent electrical properties of the cable, IMO.

Bob P.