Cat-5 cable as interconnect material

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Anyone ever mess with this stuff...I'm talking to a guy over on SIN about it, but he hasn't gotten back to me how it sounds vs. "regular" interconnect wiring.

I've got about 100 feet of black and gray plenum-rated stuff left over from a structured wiring install...I figure for the cost of connectors (I've already got the heat shrink and solder) I could have myself all the IC's I need for a pittance.

Thoughts/opinions? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/up2something.gif.dd110ecf3ae4b76050d87598f2f8de7c.gif

Click to read more...

 

[Big and Loud]

well it is just several twisted pairs so its probably not all that different than RCAs but it does use solid copper wire so you would have to be more careful flexing it too far orit will not work. personally i thing it would probably work ok but I wouldn't want to use it. just seems kinda ghetto to me maybe if it was sheilded cat 5. it would be nice to be able to run alll your RCAs through one small wire like cat 5 though.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/search.php?query=Cat5+cable+RCA&forumchoice=-1&booleanand=yes&searchin=all&searchdate=-1&searchuser=&searchdateline=&exactname=yes&action=dosearch&getdaily=&pagenum=

Should find a few topics in that search about it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

FWIW, I'm going to be using some Cat5 wire for interconnects in my install because that's what my PG EQ230 uses for it's balanced cable (basically a shielded RJ45 connector and Cat5e cable). So, it can't be all bad //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I knew registering for ECA would come in handy...I almost never go there.

Thanks for the info; looks like I'll be going this route.

 

[zane 10+ year member]

This is old news. We did this little number on SIN better than 2 years ago.

A lot of us there, myself included, went crazy and made tons of CAT-5 Interconnects.

They were inexpensive and very easy to make. In theory, everything seemed like it would work well.

Then we began comparing and testing CAT-5 against other cable types and other cable manufacturers.

That's where theory and reality clearly separated.

CAT-5 was found inferior over and over again, mainly due to it's higher susceptibility to induced noise than other cables.

Dan from Adire Audio has a fairly comprehensive report on the matter on Adire's site:

http://www.adireaudio.com/Files/TechPapers/CarCables.pdf

Personally, I'd not waste my time further with a CAT-5 interconnect. There's no real documented benefit to justify using it when clearly there is much better availble.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

There's no real documented benefit to justify using it when clearly there is much better availble.

Well yes, there's better available...but at this price point (i.e. practically free?)

They're not going to be used in a car, so I shouldn't have too much inducted noise to worry about...

 

[deaf tones 10+ year member]

they are decent...figure they are 18-26ga cable (depending on who makes them) but solid copper strands like previously stated. There are noise issues...but if you aren't too concerned about it then by all means solder away //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

kind of difficult to find decent rca ends that will hold that small of a wire though.

ps...i'm sure you noticed the ppi-deq 230 with their 20' extension cable. That is the exact same thing...a data cable...but with some fancy mylar coating to make it look better.

 

[deaf tones 10+ year member]

oh yeah...i've seen/heard people who run 18ga speaker wire without any problems.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

BAH!

Go all out. Use some Romex!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[deaf tones 10+ year member]

hahaha

 

[Logikalliquid 10+ year member]

Did you read the Adire view on CAT5 ICs?

http://www.adireaudio.com/Files/TechPapers/CarCables.pdf

EDIT: I should read the whole thread before posting i guess...

 

[ToyTundra 10+ year member]

Great link zane and logikalliquid. i enjoyed it