[satfrat]

I really wish I had had the opportunity to demo this digital cable against the Crystal Cable Digit John. Thought you were gonna send me one?  Oh well, my 30 day demo period is up with the Crystal Digit and I am pretty happy with it so wtf. Ashame tho as the crystal Cable is also a 34K Gold/pure silver alloy and it would have made for a good comparison. 

Cheers,
Robin

Robin,

I owe you a SERIOUS apology Robin. I deeply regret that I didn't get a cable to you in time to compare and for that I am truely sorry. If you ever decide to buy ANY of my cables you let me know and I WILL take care of you. I will still get a digital cable up there for you guys to demo. I am having a hard time getting WBT to get back to me so I can order plugs, right now I am having to pay the retail price of $250 for a set of four and I keep running out. I am still awaiting for plugs to arrive, WBT is sure taking their sweet time and it's putting a hurt on me and my potential customers! Again, I offer you my sincerest apologies Robin.

Sincerely,
John

No worries John, apology accepted.  Guess we both lost out on this one but this time of year is crazy enough as it is. I can only hope your $499 digital cable didn't match up to my $1200 Crystal cable, I could have saved a lot of money had it.  And it's my own fault also for not hounding you more. BUT it's not like i'm suffering anyways, I'm recovering OK from my "sticker shock". 

Cheers,
Robin

[KCI-JohnP]

Hi Robin,

I can only hope your $499 digital cable didn't match up to my $1200 Crystal cable

Well I do know that one of mine just gave the "Ole Boot" to a V.D. Revelation Signature digital cable(MSRP somewhere well above $2K).

$1200 for the Crystal Cable? ouch! Geez, maybe I need to "adjust" my prices!! lol. Naaah, I just can't play that game and sleep well at night. I'd rather have happy customers that still have some $ left in their pockets to buy some music! I would still like to make it up to you Robin so when you're ready you let me know.

Best,
John

[zybar]

No worries John, apology accepted.  Guess we both lost out on this one but this time of year is crazy enough as it is. I can only hope your $499 digital cable didn't match up to my $1200 Crystal cable, I could have saved a lot of money had it.  And it's my own fault also for not hounding you more. BUT it's not like i'm suffering anyways, I'm recovering OK from my "sticker shock". 

Cheers,
Robin

$1200 for a digital ic?   OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!

Robin, I am going to try and get in John's digital ic for a listen, want to come down and compare?

George

[satfrat]

No worries John, apology accepted.  Guess we both lost out on this one but this time of year is crazy enough as it is. I can only hope your $499 digital cable didn't match up to my $1200 Crystal cable, I could have saved a lot of money had it.  And it's my own fault also for not hounding you more. BUT it's not like i'm suffering anyways, I'm recovering OK from my "sticker shock". 

Cheers,
Robin

$1200 for a digital ic?   OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!

Robin, I am going to try and get in John's digital ic for a listen, want to come down and compare?

George

Sounds very doable George! Thanks. 

[Steve Eddy]

Naaah, I just can't play that game and sleep well at night.

Good to see that others in this bid'ness also feel this way.

The sad part is that in our society we're conditioned to equate price with quality and pricing things such that they have a reasonable relationship to their cost to produce will tend to cause one to lose sales to pricier offerings.

Of course significantly jacking up the price will also lose some sales, but in the end it may ultimately be more profitable. I've heard numerous anecdotal tales of those who started out offering their product at a reasonable price but didn't have any sales to speak of. They decided to double, triple or quadruple the price and suddenly they can't make enough of them to meet the demand. The higher price seems to cause more people to take the product more seriously.

So one must choose between potentially greater profits, or peace of mind and being able to sleep at night.

Since the former can't buy me the latter, I choose to simply stick with the latter from the start.

se

[KCI-JohnP]

Hi Steve,

They decided to double, triple or quadruple the price and suddenly they can't make enough of them to meet the demand. The higher price seems to cause more people to take the product more seriously.

It's funny you said that Steve as I still have close friends telling me that had I priced my interconnects higher I would be selling more and maybe that's true, but it doesn't matter to me. Do I make a profit? Sure, sometimes, but I think most would laugh if they knew what these darn things cost to make excluding labor. Do I make profits in other ways? Absolutely, I'm having fun, learning new things and making friends and that's what matters...to me anyway. To me that's a profit I can keep forever. Oh yeah, every once in a while I get to trade for some cool gear too! aa

So one must choose between potentially greater profits, or peace of mind and being able to sleep at night.

Since the former can't buy me the latter, I choose to simply stick with the latter from the start.

I agree! Hell, I have enough trouble sleeping as it is anyway!!

Best,
John

[Zero]

Jeff - I'm looking forward to reading more of your impressions on these nifty cables!

John- I can't wait to give them a spin!

[Rx8man]

Hey guys,

My new 24awg digital cable arrived from John today, I already have the 26awg digital cable for comparison sake too. I ALSO have 24awg (heavier gage) Silkworm interconnects throughout, and yes, they are utterly musical.

Anyone looking for a reference digital cable between their Transport and Dac, look NO FURTHER.

I have had well over a DOZEN digital cables in my rig, including Purist Audio Dominus, Kimber Illuminati Orchid, Marigo, Stealth and the latest, Virtual Dynamics Revelation Signature (just under the Genesis) all great cables.

Now, the least expected thing has happened that I thought would NEVER happen,
I sold the V.D. Revelation Sig. after hearing Johns FIRST digital cable he sent me (the 26awg) Johns digital cable sounded less mechanical, was smoother and seemed quieter at the same time, preserving all other parameters, wow.

Next, I got this wild idea and decided to call John and have him tool up another digital cable, only this one would be the heavier 24awg. 

Call me nuts if you will, but this thing is totally OFF the map, as I play
Al Dimeola "Kiss My Axe" it pins me against the listening chair with a commanding, yet natural and relaxed authority !

It is so smooth, ultra detailed, liquid, airy and dynamic to the extreme, that I feel like I need better speakers and a larger room to accomodate all the signal being passed.

I don't want to confuse anyone about the conductor gage thing here 26/24, all I did was ask John for MORE of what it already has, with a stronger presence (weight, heft) and here it is.

Another thing I noticed is Johns cables are not system dependent like many others, they bring all the music to an extremely wide array of components.

By the way, I forgot to mention, this cable has Platinum WBT locking RCA jacks that are not only top notch, but a breeze to use.

The construction throughout is completely solid, lightweight and user friendly.

My congratulations go to John Prator, he hit a home run with this one. 

 

[pbrstreetgang]

Cool thread and nice to see tone doing a review! I wasnt a big believer in ICs in the past, sure they made differences but they were mostly a little more of this or less of that. More a matter of taste. I got to hear silkworms in my system and the best way I can describe it is that I felt fully justified with the difference it was like I was buying another component not just wasting my money on cables. Another friend described the difference as if all my components went in for a sonicap upgrade. The sound if I was to describe it is the aura and musicallity that a good amp(read accurate, non overly tubey) gives the presentation and emotion to the music- an intangeable that just feels spot on. I steal a silkworm out of the big rig to even use on my Stax headphone system 

[Rx8man]

I definately need a larger room, the sound is so immense and enveloping I can't believe my ears, I'm washed away.

Last night, I left work early to come home and listen (like I'm doing now)

The room is a complete musical soundscape, it's like a big upgrade, having better caps or torroidals in every piece of your gear, like pbrstreetgang said.

Trying to find descriptive adverbs or adjectives seems useless at this point, once you hear these, you'll concur with my statements. aa

[satfrat]

Hey Rx8man, real nice writeup,,, now I'm really enivous that I haven't heard them.  It was nice to hear about the variety of high quality digital cables you've had the opportunity to audtion in your system,  but could you state what compenents you're using with the Silkworm digital cable? Maybe you'd like to list your system in the system link at the top of the page? Thanks. 

Cheers,
Robin

[Frank S.]

Do the Silkworms come in a balanced design with XLR terminations?

[arthurs]

John just made me a balanced pair of cables with XLR's Frank.  I needed a long run since I mounted my turntable on a wall stand. 

[Rx8man]

Robin,

CEC TL-2X, Museatex Bitstream DAC, Audio Horizons TP 2.0, NuForce Ref 9 SE V2.

I installed Furutech Gold plated IEC inlets on all components except the amps, an extremely musical combo.

Kinima HG-1 monitors and Dahlquist DQ-30I's, Cardas Hexlink Golden 5C shotgun
bi-wire.

SP Techs, Ridge Street Audio Sasons and Intuitive Design Delta Summits are on the horizon.

[lonewolfny42]

Robin,

CEC TL-2X, Museatex Bitstream DAC, Audio Horizons TP 2.0, NuForce Ref 9 SE V2.

I installed Furutech Gold plated IEC inlets on all components except the amps, an extremely musical combo.

Yes, I'm pretty sure John can tool up XLR's, just call or email him.

And your speakers are ? Thanks....

[Zero]

For what its worth gents; Affordable Audio will be reviewing the gamut of Kool Cables.  This will be lots of fun.   I can't wait to see what Jeff has to say about the Silkworms.

[giantsteps]

I heard the silkworms at Toprounds NY RAVE when they were thrown into a 7watt Set amp/pre system with a huge pair of klipsch horns that were sounding dead. These Silkworms not only woke up them horns, it was like the whole system was on steroids. It's one of them moments when you go out of your way to find out the name of them IC's. In fact it was this that got me wanting to try out John's digital cable that he was in the process of developing. Definitely worth an audiion in anyone's system. 



Cheers,
Robin

 I heard the Silkworms for the first time at Mike's rave and I too was very impressed and found myself fondling my Visa card. . And then someone told me how much they cost....


 Frank

[KCI-JohnP]

Do the Silkworms come in a balanced design with XLR terminations?

Hi Frank,
I do offer them in balanced as well as the digital with BNC's. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!

Best regards,
John

I heard the Silkworms for the first time at Mike's rave and I too was very impressed and found myself fondling my Visa card. . And then someone told me how much they cost....
 Frank

Hello Frank,
Hey, at least you're getting pure 24K gold instead of copper!  I do run auctions on audiogon and if I run across a used set I usually try and let people know about
them. I will also offer AC members 15% off of any purchase, just let me know you're a member here.

Best regards,
John

[KCI-JohnP]

Jeff,

A package is leaving for your office today via USPS Express, keep your eyes peeled! Looking forward to your thoughts.

Sincerely,
John