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Re: your opinions for usage as speaker cable

209.215.72.212

See my DIY note, in it, I specify part numbers as well as materials and construction that should be used, providing enough information so that you could find said cables on your own from any other sources.

Newark carries CAT5 cable by Belden, and many other national distributors do as well. There is a list of distributors at the Belden wbe site, URL listed in my DIY note.

See:
http://members.xoom.com/Jon_Risch/

There are other ready alternatives too:

The Belden 1585A is available from Tech America as their part #910-1603 for 31 cents a foot. http://www.techam.com/ 1-800-877-0072

As far as I know, 1585A and B are still available from Belden distribs, as are 1669A and the 2 pair cable 1590A. I keep the numbers listed in the note, so that anyone who has some of the CAT5 laying around, or scraps at work, can ID and use it.

Another source is Hosfelt Electronics Inc., 1-800-524-6464, or 740-264-6464, located at 2700 Sunset Blvd, Steubenville Ohio 43952

Their part numbers 36-431 for 4 pair 24 ga. at 29 cents a foot, is a FEP teflon insulated bare solid copper based cable in the CAT5 enhanced category, and should be suitable for DIY speaker cable.

Given the basics in my notes, i.e., be sure to look for bare copper, unshielded, plenum/teflon construction, and you should be able to cross-reference other brands or even find the latest data cables in the Belden catalog.

Newer Belden numbers for suitable CAT5 type cables, are:
1701A

Siameese construction (two 4 pair overall jacketed cables side by side) is used on:
1669A, and new #'s
1653A
1703A

All these have PVC or Flamearrest jackets, and I recommend that the overall paired group of cables be removed from the jackets and braided for maximum performance. If you just bundle the cbles together, even if you use the pairings, the PVC overall jackets will compromise the sound somewhat.

Jon Risch





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  • Re: your opinions for usage as speaker cable - Jon Risch 19:42:23 07/25/99 (0)


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