CAT5 Speaker Cable

A friend of mine recently raised an issue I remember coming across once before but never really invetsigated thoroughly; that is making your own home-made speaker cable from CAT5 network cable.

Anyone here attempted this, or better still using it?

Thanks

 

Some still using it happily, think it has had a few updates, using belden cable and such, best bet is to check out TNT website, and try it.

 

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

I made it, it's ok, although I didn't notice the "night and day" improvements some people talk about.

 

I can sell you some suitable cat 5 at a good price if you want...

 

When I made mine at first I thought the differences were wondeful, extending listening revealed a substantial lack of bass, the midrange was erring towards the higher frequencies and the treble has too sharp.

This cable is very very detailed but it just can't seem to get the frequencies right, somthing but happen to alter the electrical properties of the signal. After all a cable is just a cable it shouldn't be any difference to the sound as long as the cable as enough strangs to deliver the bandwidth required. I am using IXOS Gamma cables at the moment, they sound good, they are very subtle.

 

...got too many contacts in the trade my friend,..which in short means I can get CAT5 free

 

I have been reading that it has taken many users of this cable type a very long time to get the construction correct before they are happy with the sound. See link below:

http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

 

It was ok.....but I've moved on to DIY pure silver which is more expensive and considerably better han any copper cable I've heard.

 

please take a look at my thread in the diy section

 

Made it, using it and satisfied.

 

I'll pass

 

I will let my friend build them and see how they sound before I get too opinionated

Best cables I challenge anyone here to not marvel at are the Verbatim:

 

They look those Meiter copper efforts

 

cat5. Hmm. If you like a bright, harsh, fatiguing kind of sound they are just the ticket.

 

I'll laugh at them Ahahahaha!

 

verbatim...heard these last week: not very marvellous.

 

Where did you hear them may I ask? And on what system? How new were the cables? How long did you listen for?

They are very revealing and it would be easy to jump to the conclusion that they are not that great when in fact it's other links in the chain.

Have you put them into your own system in your own surroundings for a full listening test for a suitable length of time?

NB: The Verbatim I refer to is no connection to the Verbatim computer product company that also supplies cabling for the IT sector, totally separate companies.

 

Maybe I should lend you my spare set, then we will see who's laughing!!

 

the one in the pic doesn't even look long enough to reach from the speaker bind post to the floor?