John Dunlavy's posts to rec.audio.* during 2001:
New messages will be added here as I see them on Usenet; hopefully in less than a week. Thanks to Dunlavy for this information. 

Since July 1999, Mr. Dunlavy has been posting with much greater frequency and in a more interactive manner than previously; I am archiving primarily the posts where he explains something I believe will be of general, enduring interest. 


Last revised 15 February 2001.



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From johndunlavy@aol.com Thu Feb 15 13:59:04 2001
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Speaker wire
From: johndunlavy@aol.com (JohnDunlavy)
Date: 15 Feb 2001 19:59:04 GMT 
Hi Todd, 

Having lectured both graduate and under-grad classes in transmission-line theory, network theory and antenna theory at a few highly respected universities during the past 40 years, I can assure you that your view of how electrical "signals" propagate along cable conductors (wires) is flawed. 

But you are hardly alone with respect to believing that signals may be "jumping from strand to strand along audio cables", and thus creating "audible signal distortions". 

Among competent electrical engineers and physicists, it is well known that electrical "signals" propagate along conductors (wires and cables) at nearly light speed (approx. 186,000 miles per second). If the conductors are completely surrounded by an insulating material (dielectric) other than air, the signal velocity will be slowed by a relatively small amount. For example, an electrical signal will propagate along the wires of a cable using polyethylene insulation at about 66 percent of "light speed". 

The misperception regarding the velocity of propagation along wires probably originated because electrons do travely at relatively slow speeds along conductors. But they do not directly "carry" the signal. When an electron is set in motion by a potential difference along a conductor, it creates an electro-magnetic field that surrounds the wire. It is this electro-magnetic field that actually propagates the electrical signal along a wire or cable - at nearly light speed. 

I sincerely hope that this somewhat brief and "simplified" explanation helps you and others to better understand the nature of electrical signals traveling along wires and cables. The nonsense "claims" used by many audiophile cable and wire companies to sell their products is simply false advertising. Ask any competent electrical engineer or physicist. 

Best of listening, 

John D. 

End of archive. New posts will be added as I become aware of them. 



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I hope you find this information as interesting and useful as I have. The other contributions to these threads (and many others) can be found by searching Google (nee DejaNews) and/or in the rec.audio.high-end archives. 

These and other topics are also discussed in a series of 'white papers' available from Dunlavy Audio Labs, as well as in the August 1996 'Stereophile' interview with John Dunlavy. 

I have no connection with DAL except customer (and enthusiast...:-).