Tweakers' Asylum

Posted by mark maloof (A) on December 02, 2005 at 00:31:10

In Reply to: DIY Cat5e speaker cables and amp compatibility posted by KWILLIS on December 1, 2005 at 05:05:27:

If your amp is a tube amp, no problem. If your amp is SS, but has zero negative feedback (or very low feedback), it might be fine. I would never use these cables with my highbandwidth Innersound amp, as it would make it oscillate. I used to love Goertz, but can't use it with the Innersound amp, so I'm looking into various low capacitance alternatives (and I drive electrostatics, to, which also present a weird load to amps.)

You may be fine, or you may just stress your amp a bit (make it run warm, maybe shorten it's life a tiny bit, but perhaps I'm being extreme.) What is your amp? Tube or SS? As far a Zoebels go, from what I have read, there is a certain formula to figuring out the right resistor and cap values to make a Zoebel for your paticular amp. Goertz, for instance, gives you a Zoebel network at a certain value, but what if it's not tuned right for your amp's output? Anyways, I was warned by Innersound to never use Goertz, and not even take the chance of using a Zoebel. I certainly don't want to void my warrenty if I screw something up.

The CAT 5 is VERY HIGH in the capacitance level, something like 500 PF per foot.