ssabripo's cat5e based DIY Speaker cables Tutorial: Audiophile wires on the cheap! - Page 2

I made a 4 foot cat5e cable to try out. If it works, I plan on using it for my center. I used 6 cat5e wires braided. Now, my question, will capacitance of this wire be an issue, I read that this set-up has a higher capacitance, and could cause my amp to overheat. I'm running a yamaha htr-5960, I doubt this will be a problem, because if I've read right, this is essentially a 10ga. wire, and that shouldn't pose a problem...right?? I'll admit, I'm a newb still, so I just don't wanna fry anything. If its not a problem, I'll do some testing. It did come out really good,. Used heat shrink tubing for the whole cord, flexibility is better than I thought it would be, and it kinda looks like a spinal cord (which is what i've been calling it now).

ssabripo <----- "The Man"

The capacitance isn't rock bottom but it's fairly low and given your lengths, it's something that shouldn't pose a concern.

Ok, so the 4 foot cable is fine, what about a 12 foot length of my spinal cord? Also, whats the goal with capacitance, for there to be none right? Thanks guys!

I couldn't tell from the discussion or the picture. Are these stranded or solid Cat5e?
Also did we get any clear answer on how long we can have this? Surround sound running along the wall...possible 25-30Ft. Is this OK?

braiding these at this length will be a b*@$.

I'de assume you would treat it like any speaker cable. As for stranded or solid, it's just 8 solid copper wires per cat5e cable, twisted pair.


Yeah, I did about 15ft and I kept getting hand cramps

I found this link that use the Belden 89259 (the cable use for DIY internnect in the other thread) as oppose to the Cat5 construct. http://www.audiyo.com/pdf/CC89259_Jo...ker_Cables.pdf

Does anyone know anything about this type of construct for Speaker? Comparable to Cat?

Obviously it'll cost a bit more with Belden cable, but at least don't have to go thru the dreadful braiding.

Ok, so, how about the overall impedance? How the cat 5 is about double the impedance than normal speaker cable (cat5 150 ohms, speaker cable 75 ohms). I'll admit to being kinda afraid to try this out, as Im afraid of burning out my reciever. Who actually uses this type of cable in there set-up? And anyone have any problems with this cable design???

Your thinking of interconnects, which measure the impedance for high frequencies. Also, 150 ohms impedance with cat5 is across one of the wires, which is usually either 23 or 24 guage. We're combining all these wires in series, and with my cable (24 gauge) I got an equivalent 12 guage wire. Basically, you don't need to worry about the impedance at all. I've been using these cables on a receiver from 1972 with no problems! (yes, I'll be upgrading as soon as I have the money ^_^)

Cat 5 is NOT 150 Ohms, and speaker wire is NOT 75 OHms.
75 Ohm coax cable has a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms (look up what characteristic impoedance is...so you can see how it's not a factor here) cat 5 is 110 Ohms.


Interconnects don't 'measure' anything. Characteristic impedance of a cable is the vector sum of resistance, capacitive and inductive reactance. It only really matters at frequencies way above human hearing, and when the source and load are matched to the cable impedance. Which is not the case here.

Thorsten Loesch and tnt-audio.com has a design that I have had great results with. I use it running 40 feet to my surrounds and 6 feet to my mains. Each 'wire' is made up of three cat5 and the braid is very loose compared to ssabripos. The total copper in three runs of Cat 5 (24 conductors) is the same as 10.29 AWG.

For bi-wires:
Two runs of cat5e are used for the woofer/mid, one run + and one run - . However for the 3rd run and the higher frequencies...
"All white plus coloured ring wires are connected together for the (+) connection to the tweeter and all coloured wires as (-) connection. This connection provides a very low inductance and hence the widest bandwidth for the Tweeter."

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/spkcbl_e.html

It's great that so many are into DIY Cat5!

Too bad about the increased capacitance though.

I didn't write the above very clearly!
I meant, a pair is a solid color and a striped conductor.
All the solid colored wires should be connected together. (from all the cables)
All the striped conductors should be connected together.

Hello all, I'm too busy to start trying to make these cables right now, but I'm going to be asking a few questions ahead of time =D

1) If i understand properly, you need four times the length of cable you desire to create (to make an 8 foot cable you need 32 feet of cat5, right?)

2) Is it alright to make the cables bare on the ends rather than have plugs?

3) I have some old-ish cat5 cable lying around that I can use, but I don't know much about them... any way I can find out? actually, i'm looking at it and it says "quest enhanced cat.5 350mhz UTP Type cm 60'C 24AWG (UL) E188630 CSA LL81295 CMG ETL Verified EIA/TIA-568A CAt.5 G11E207" .. is that good or bad? @_@

I picked up a 500' roll of Belden 9748 wire today for a grand total of 80 dollars. I plan on turning this into some speaker wires and skip all the braiding. 19 twisted pairs is enough ya think?
Matt

I received (30) 50ft sections of cat 5e for free from parts express about 2 weeks ago! Will (did) plan on using some of it for audio. Will post pics when I eventually do it. Just not too much free time right now

Great thread. I'm looking to do a similar thing. Any news on the results of the non-braiding? Time constraints is the problem.

cant you just twist them using a door knob and a Drill i know you dont get the braiding but the effect is great you can then treat them quickly using a hot air gun to keep then together

looks good sherv long time no talk to.....

ssabripo,

Can you tell me how much Techflex 3/8" sleeve is required for 9' pair and single 6' in length? How about the TechFlex 1" shell ? What kind of wire stripper should I get from parts express? Last, do you experience any problem with your amp or receiver? I read somewhere these cables might present some problem for some amplifiers. At the end of the day, was the project pay in sound quality?

How does this compare to the Canare 4s11 star quad cable? I did these cat5 cables, and am happy with them, but they aren't the most discreete looking things!!

I've had a set of these for several years.
They sound as good a my Audio Quest cables tht I paid over $500 for!
Just sharing, for some reason. :-)

Ha ha..... fun!

It's all nonsense of course. Just use 14ga lamp cord. Or 12ga for really long runs on 4 ohm speakers.

Copper is copper. Just make sure the total gauge of each of the two conductors is high enough. 14ga is fine for most applications. Your speakers won't know if it's Cat5 or lamp cord. Twisted or not.

read this:
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

How 'bout 1/4" copper pipe with an insulated conductor running inside!

Hey folks,
Nice talking with you and i know this is late but, i came across this article because in my garage, i have a 1000' box of CAT5E 350mhz cable and was wondering what to do with it! Well, here's my answer, i desoldered some good monster connects from some intermittent cable and made some interconnect, best interconnect i have yet, then turned around and made 2 10' runs of speaker wire, kissa** wire, excuse me! Each pair has 4 runs of 4 pair braided. I haven't quite decided what to terminate 'em with yet so, the ends have silver solder to keep them intact. It was worth every bit of the effort and i'm wondering, WTH was i thinking all this time? Here's some advice to the aardvarks out there who don't think that what you use for wire makes a difference: Have your ears checked if you can't tell!

Peace to all,
1jazznut

And may Shiva the Destroyer smite all your enemies, 1jazznut.