zobal networks ?

I also think that Jud needs to open his mind. I really like Dunlavy speakers but why should we assume that Dunlavy (or any other “respected” designer for that matter) is an absolute electrical genius? Other than not using Zobels, he also implements cheap (yet competent for the price) midrange and tweeter drivers, which can be easily improved with the substitution of better drivers (for instance: change that cheapo Vifa tweeter for a Morell MDT 33).

What John (and other competent designers) brings to market are extremely competent designs that compare to others at, or above their price points. For anyone to assume that a designer has not dropped the ball somewhere on a detail or two, is very shortsighted and a bit naïve.

Something to note about “Zobels”: a single Zobel network used within a crossover IS NOT THE SAME as multiple individualize Zobels networks that are wired in parallel across each of the speaker’s driver terminals. The latter is the one that Stan Warren is recommending, not the former.

Stan is an expert of how different amplifier gain stages react to different loads, and how they will sound accordingly. This is where Dunlavy (and many other speaker designers drop the ball). If a Zobel is implemented correctly, it will be a WIN/WIN scenario with no downfalls. Each driver's voice coil has an inherent reactive inductance that if tamed, will allow the amplifier to do a better job operating that driver. With properly measured and implemented Zobel networks in place, the driver’s inherent phase vectors
are drastically reduced, allowing the amplifiers' gain stage to better react to the changing
dynamic demands that would be worse if the individualized driver/zobel networks were not in place. Again this is not the same as implementing a crossover Zobel network, which is no where near as effective as individualized driver Zobel networks.

Sean, I appreciate your backing me up on Zobels. In terms of my description of John Dunlavy, I want to state that I DO think he is an electrical genius! I just don't think he (or anybody for that matter) is an ABSOLUTE electrical genius. Is there anybody on this planet that knows everything?

It has been my experience that many highly respected designers of ultra high end loudspeakers, amplification and digital can miss something in their overall design execution, which although may be just minor oversights, are oversights none the less.

When we are talking about very expensive products such as $25k+ speakers, $10k+ amplifiers , or $5k+ digital that can be easily improved with inexpensive modifications, I feel that my "dropping the ball" description is very appropriate. A product at these price points should not be easy to improve with minor, inexpensive modifications.