John Dunlavy On "Cable Nonsense"

Audio Tekne draws there own silver wire and does the complete assembly process themselves. This is how they are able to maintain there high quality standards and keep there prices affordable. If you need an explanation of how cable is twisted and covered I would suggest contacting Brian at BMI (or if he's reading this he could help out) for he hand assembles all his power cords. It's not a huge mystery or so difficult only a machine can achieve it. Machines are for the mass production, for example computer cables, VCR and low/mid-fi audio, T.V. lights.......

Why is everything in high-end audio a conspiracy to some?

It is easier to understand line cord differences if you think of them as religious articles. You cannot mass produce a religous item and expect it to have any power. It has to be hand made and of only the highest quality materials.

I have been reading up a bit on cable as I will be experimenting with DIY IC's with a friend. It seems to be common knowledge that the signal not only passes through the wire but along its surface as well (in a different manner which is called "skin effect"). The sound is also influenced by the type of insulation(s) being used and how the insulation(s) meets (or does not meet as with an "air" surround) the wire. Impurities "in" wire may just be another obstacle for the signal to overcome (this is not saying that there cannot be "specific" impurities that would actually improve the sound). An example of this would seem to be silver oxide forming on silver cable based on the observations of others. Why limit it to just this? The types of connections and connectors used influence the sound (this I have already observed with a few DIY IC's). Also, getting back to "skin effect", how the surface of the wire is formed and finished should also have an influence as well. There is a lot to study and experiment with (and many different design features to take into consideration) if one keeps an open mind as well as an open ear(s). I consider the projects to be a fun and inexpensive ventures. As with most everything, it all depends on your outlook.

I think we are loosing focus here. What John Dunlavy is saying, I think, is that yes there is basic princpals, as described earlier in his letter, and measuring tools, methods to varify if the cable is designed right.If all manufactures understand these principals and implement this COOK book manufaturing technique, ther would /shouls not be significant change in sound among diffrent makes. It is the methods used other than then the BASIC, like termiation boxes, diffrent weave techniques that different make claim to have invented that IMPROVES (actually it changes) the sound is BUNK( Cable Nonsense). That change in sound is what we here and prefer or not among different makes. I do hear changes in cables and chosen my cables accordingly. But I am not proponent of expensive cables-mine range between $300-800 price range.
I love Dunlavy's speakers (have V'S , II'S and I)and their speaker cable. To me their speaker prices are justified, however to some it may sound poor value. Similar analogy to Cable pricing. It is case of supply and demand. Like few posts above said, in this limited demand market, there is high cost of 'Research', manufacturing in lower qualntity, limited distribution and to be profitable, Cable makers have to charge accordingly. They believe in ' there is sucker born every minute' theroy. Some buy in the cable nonsense claims and here the difference in THIER systems, some don't.

Let me make another point. They say they all very well designed amplifier sound same, then why there are amplifiers costing megabucks. It is little bit of improvement and LOT of marketing technique.

1. John Dunlavy is in his early 70's not 80's. And while he might have "senior moments" like many folks do, I can tell you from recent personal experience that he is anything but "loosing it".

2. John's philosophy of cable design is to insure that "loudspeaker cables possess all the electrical properties required to ensure that no audible degradation of complex musical waveforms and transients can occur between the output terminals of a power-amp, and the input terminals of a loudspeaker." (from his website)

3. John claims he can always 100% of the time hear the difference in sighted test and never in blind test.

4. He also claims that no one has ever figured out which cable was playing when he performed his blind test in his office.

5. Never has he said "no one can hear a difference"

6. I know folks who claim they have never missed identifying which cable was playing when doing the test blind and I believe them.

7. Lest we forget, this hobby is supposed to be fun but based upon some of the posts on this thread, it appears that some have yet to figure that out

8. I actually hope John Dunlavy is correct. Look how much money we can spend on music (novel idea)

9. You can take some of the mega buck wire and get estimates on cost to manufacture and you will find that the margins are in the bazillioin digits !!