• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

CAT-5 interconnects - Anyone done it?

Redboy

Redboy

a few good watts
Does anyone have any personal experience with CAT-5 interconnects? I was thinking to use a single twisted pair of the wires. They're copper, they're solid, they're already twisted...

I'm sure it's been done before. Is this a good idea?
 
Register to hide this ad
I've used single twisted pairs as speaker wire and quite liked it, seems a nice match for a low power SET/high-eff speaker pairing.

Never tried them as interconnects but the interconnects I like best so far are thin-gage single strand copper - give it a shot.
 
Yeah, but I am quite enamored of (enameled of?) twisted pair 30-ga magnet wire for interconnects. I've been very pleased with these sonically, tho' they're a bit physically fragile/fiddly. They're absolutely fine if you don't disconnect/reconnect/move things around much.

I've made one pair in a teflon tubing sleeve, but those were for someone else.
 
All right, I'm going to try this and report back. Got some CHEAP solder type phono plugs at RatASSShack over my lunch break - they look like just the ticket.

mhardy, you say you've done this w/ CAT5? What did you think of them?

I'll have to try magnet wire sometime, too.

Stay tuned...
 
I've made some with the magnet wire as well and remember them being very nice, but very fragile. Of course that was early in my soldering days. Axman had some nice magnet wire for cheap back then.
 
mhardy, you say you've done this w/ CAT5? What did you think of them?
Click to expand...
I already answered, but you've got to read between the lines :-)

Seriously, they were fine, but I actually thought the skinny little magnet wire tp's sounded better. That's about all I can say. BTW, they're all very short (0.5 meter) and the RCA plugs are "R/S grade".

Gary Kaufman uses CAT5 interconnects (sometimes) at home.
You can see a pair of his in the top-page photo at http://www.the-planet.org/Shishido.html
 
I tried to do the Cat-5 thing...but they didn't want to cooperate... :D

C_FiveCatsSM.jpg
 
Redboy said:
All right, I'm going to try this and report back. Got some CHEAP solder type phono plugs at RatASSShack over my lunch break - they look like just the ticket.

mhardy, you say you've done this w/ CAT5? What did you think of them?

I'll have to try magnet wire sometime, too.

Stay tuned...
Click to expand...
I do believe that interconnects need to be shielded. Cat5 isn't, so I hope you don't blow anything up along the road to enlightenment... ;)

Great for speaker wire, probably not the best choice for interconnects. Of course, being up in MN, you could probably braid up one hell of a set of CAT5 jumper cables... :D
 
Well, nothing blew up.

They sound pretty good to my ears, though not as good as those cables I've got on loan from you, Gary. There goes my hope for a $3.00 substitute for quality stuff!

But they're really quite listenable. I think each of you fellas should craft a pair of your own and tell me what you think.
 
In all seriousness, if you can get away without a shielded cable for a particular application, you're better off. At the very least, the shielding can cause increased capacitance in a cable.

Experiment on!
 
These have been in my system for a few days now. As mentioned before, they don't sound as good as the Signal cables I borrowed for a while from Gary, but they outperform everything else I've used to this point. Which says very little, actually, as everything else I've used has been pretty generic. I popped the Monster interlink 300 cables that had been my regular fare back in for a few minutes, and everything lost some luster. Looks like I'll keep these for awhile! Wow, talk about bang for the buck!
 
Last edited:
I use CAT5 interconnects, about 1m with these locking RCAs. Put 'em in, never took them out. I guess I like them! :D

I'll probably try some thinner wire twisted pair DIY interconnects someday, but that's down the road. Cables are pretty system dependent, IMHO, so what works best for one isn't likely for work best for all.
 
Try it... You'll like it. The only thing I've done that I like any better is silver in teflon.

Besides. It's cheap. Spend the couple of bucks and try a few things.
 
I never used Cat 5 for interconnects. I do use it extensively inside my speaker boxes, XO to drivers.

My experience is it works exceptionally well for the XO to HF driver while not quite as well to the LF driver.

I don't know the particulars of wire properties but find if I twist the two white together and the two blues together I end up with a good HF connection that sounds fine to my ears. After trying this with the XO to LF driver I went back to a 16 gauge and like it better in this area.

I have made some of my best interconnects from the info on this thread and will say I am completely satisfied with the results.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=61442&highlight=interconnects

The Canare StarQuad is some very fine wire for this application and the instructions are tough to beat! I am also very impressed with the link to where to get the supplies as Markertek is one of a few companies that truely gets the job done and in break neck speed when you place an order.

Gary
 
I am thinking about using this design. I have some zip wire that is solid core. I use it to setup electronically fired fireworks shows (like the 4th of July, big ones). It is alot like the CAT 5 wire but maybe a touch heavier. I will report if I ever do it.

Thanks for a fun idea!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom