Speaker cables using CAT 5 UTP cable ?

[Mike Dando]

Many months ago I read a formum article on
how to make speaker cables from CAT 5 UTP computer network cable.

Apparently you can make some great cables from this stuff?

It had links to a web site which described how to make them.

Can anyone remember the site or did I dream it?

I have acquired some cable and thought I might have a go at making some.

Mike.

[SimonL]

It's a new one to me! although as an electrical engineer I work with the stuff quite alot it may be OK due to its low impedance qualities and twisted cores. UTP is 4 pair (i.e. 8 cores), I would have thought the best results would be to parallel 2 sets of twisted pairs togther each for conductor and ground. Then again perhaps you did dream it and it may just be easier to go buy some good quality speaker cable!

[cyberdudelion]

Try here (http://www.tnt-audio.com)

Look for the FFRC cable under DIY.

[This message has been edited by cyberdudelion (edited 11-10-2000).]

[Bada Bing]

I've seen cable like that before. I'm an IT Engineer and often with this cable too. Go for UTP as it's far more manageable. STP is a f*ckin nightmare!
I aggree, the best way of connection is to marry up the coloured wire and its respective white wire.
If it provides good results, then I'm all for it, but in the mean time I'll stick to my QED Silver Anniversary.

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Website coming soon

[Mike Dando]

Many thanks cyberdudelion.
That's the site I was looking for.

I didn't dream it after all!

[Dodgey]

i would not touch it with a barge pole.

Cat 5 cable etc. is designed specifically so that different signals on each wire can travel without interfering with each other (the twisting of certain pairs is the key - twisting the right cables prevents cross-talk and succeptibility to RFI).

Speaker cable is specifically designed to sound good. Believe me, for those of you who doubt, I have demoed many different speaker cables and interconnects). The differences between them can be HUGE.

Some are bassier, some more trebble, some the bass is more controlled (smooth and tight). Some are clinical.

It sounds like tosh, but it really works.

That said, you might play with Cat5 and get a sound you love.

Fair play http://www.homecinemachoice.com/ubb/biggrin.gif