An electrical connector 60 achieves improved transmission performance by introducing predetermined amounts of compensation between two pairs of conductors that extend from its input terminals to its output terminals along interconnection paths. Electrical signals on one pair of conductors are coupled onto the other pair of conductors in two or more compensation stages that are time delayed with respect to each other. Illustratively, the electrical connector is a modular jack that is adapted to receive a modular plug 20. Associated with the modular plug and the input of the modular jack there exists a known amount of offending crosstalk A.sub.0, which is approximately canceled by the two or more stages of compensating crosstalk. In a first stage, compensating crosstalk A.sub.1 is introduced between the pairs, and it has a first predetermined magnitude and phase at a given frequency. In a second stage, compensating crosstalk A.sub.2 is introduced between the pairs, and it has a second predetermined magnitude and phase at the given frequency. Multiple compensation stages are needed because, at high frequencies, compensating crosstalk cannot be introduced that is exactly 180 degrees out of phase with the offending crosstalk because of propagation delay. The electrical connector 60 is constructed using a multi-layer printed wiring board 600 having input and output terminals where connection to metallic wires is made. These terminals are interconnected on the printed wiring board by metallic paths that are arranged to provide multiple stages of compensating crosstalk. When the connector 60 is joined to a plug 20, the near-end crosstalk of the combined structure is extremely low at frequencies up to at least 200 MHz.