Cable Asylum

• Yes, I do. - Sondek 08:57:29 04/18/06 (1)
  In Reply to: CAT 5 for speaker wire? posted by musman on April 17, 2006 at 11:41:47:

  Used Chris's recipe for Cat5. 27 pair for the low side of bi-wire to my Vandy's, and 15 pair for the top side. Had been using AudioQuest Midnight in bi-wire config for years prior. Took about 30 seconds of listening to the Cat5's before I chucked the AudioQuest into the bin (actually sold them to co-worker for sweetheart price). It was *NO* contest. The Cat5's got even better after they were run-in. Be WARNED that braiding these Cat5's is not a chore for those lacking a strong sense of commitment!
  
  

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  • me too - pburke 15:31:27 04/18/06 (0)
    In Reply to: Yes, I do. posted by Sondek on April 18, 2006 at 08:57:29:

    funny - I also had an Audioquest cable before moving to the 27/9 CAT5. Sold the Audioquest on ebay, never looked at another speaker cable since.

    chore? I remember the blisters that come with the braiding of a long run. I actually have some 5.5 foot 27/9 pairs in the parts bin, since I moved to monblocks: now my 11" cable stubs behind the speaklers are still the fat 27/9 biwires.

    Peter

    
    
    
    

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• Yes, it works well in many systems but not all - bartc 12:36:06 04/17/06 (1)
  In Reply to: CAT 5 for speaker wire? posted by musman on April 17, 2006 at 11:41:47:

  Some amps cannot handle the massive extra capacitance. You should find a way to ascertain that before embarking on this project.

  The "full Monty" is Chris Ven Haus' classic design with 27 pairs of Cat 5 (teflon variety) in each cable. This is one hell of a lot of work to to.

  There are other versions, ranging from simply using one Cat 5 cable in its jacket with its 4 twisted pairs, to Gomercable, to all TNT-audio.com's design, to ....search the archives here.

  The usual advice is to ensure it's the teflon coated kind (usually Plenum grade is but not always) and many say remove the PVC jackets if buying it in America (vs. Europe where some jackets are teflon).

  I used it for years and loved it. Turned my friends onto it as well.

  Now I use a different design and hand built, but would still recommend the Cat 5.
  
  

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  • Re: Yes, it works well in many systems but not all - Frank J M 14:49:50 04/18/06 (0)
    In Reply to: Yes, it works well in many systems but not all posted by bartc on April 17, 2006 at 12:36:06:

    > There are other versions, ranging from simply using one
    > Cat 5 cable in its jacket with its 4 twisted pairs

    Separate (untwist) all pairs then twist together the 4 'solid' color wires as one lead repeat with the 'striped' ones. Try it, you may be surprised. Worse case you'll be out of a few dollars.
    
    

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