Polarity reversal is no phase shift.
Polarity reversal (or Pol-Rev) is a term that is often confused with phase Ø (phi)
but involves no phase shift or time delay. Polarity reversal occurs whenever we
"change the sign" of the amplitude values of a signal. In the analog realm this
can be done with an inverting amplifier, a transformer, or in a balanced line by
simply switching connections between pins 2 and 3 on one end of the cable. In
the digital realm, it is done by simply changing all pluses to minuses and vice
versa in the audio-signal data stream.
Reverse polarity is the opposite of normal polarity. Normal polarity in electronics is when you have the positive hooked up to the positive terminal and the negative to the negative terminal. Reverse polarity would be having the positive hooked up to the negative terminal and the negative to the positive terminal. The same concept can be used with magnets.
top: the original signal a/b (saw tooth)
middle: the 180° phase shifted signal
as T/2 time shifted sawtooth
bottom: the b/a-polarity reversed (inverted) signal,
mirrored on the time axis