Cat 5 High End Cable?! Does anybody test a pair of this cables?

charliez
charliez Posts: 72
edited January 2008 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
Some time ago, I´ve read a post where somebody recommends this link.
http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

Ok, since I´ve a network administrator, got some cat 5 and make the job. "Lot of time" But I didn´t connect those cables yet.

Does anybody here any experience with those cables?

Thanks

Wait your comments.
Post edited by charliez on
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Comments

  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited January 2008
    These were real popular a while back, lots of good info on AudioAsylum. I use some 16 pr (Audioholics style) with my PC rig, and used I think a 24pr Modified Venhaus design for my main rig. Now I use Chris' Chela Wire. Look up the Gomer method, if I was good with tools I would use this method.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited January 2008
    It's smack. I tried it , it sucks ****. Don't waste your time. Tell me what you wanna hook up and I will help you pick correct speaker wire.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited January 2008
    As speaker wire? I thought Cat-5 DIY stuff was just interconnects?

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,646
    edited January 2008
    There's nothing high end about Cat 5.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
    edited January 2008
    Let me tell you something about cables.. Category 5, cat 5e.. no differences on the pc side. To me that is. As far as making speaker wires out of them? Lets put it like this... I will put my wires up against any brand any time considering the same awg..! Blind test it!

    I dont mean to open up pandora's box on this.. But, I am willing to test anyone anytime..

    Halen
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,646
    edited January 2008
    Too bad we don't live closer because you'd lose.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • m00npie
    m00npie Posts: 697
    edited January 2008
    halenhoang wrote: »
    Let me tell you something about cables.. Category 5, cat 5e.. no differences on the pc side. To me that is. As far as making speaker wires out of them? Lets put it like this... I will put my wires up against any brand any time considering the same awg..! Blind test it!

    Halen
    F1nut wrote: »
    Too bad we don't live closer because you'd lose.

    Sounds like this should be a Polk Fest 08 showdown at high noon.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited January 2008
    halenhoang wrote: »
    Let me tell you something about cables.. Category 5, cat 5e.. no differences on the pc side. To me that is. As far as making speaker wires out of them? Lets put it like this... I will put my wires up against any brand any time considering the same awg..! Blind test it!

    I dont mean to open up pandora's box on this.. But, I am willing to test anyone anytime..

    Halen

    I assume you made a pair?
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited January 2008
    Cat 5 can be used for balanced line signal cables, that's about it. Not many of us use balanced signals.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
    edited January 2008
    I use CAT5 for speaker cabling on the real hifi in the living room. I quite like it. Very detailed sound with extended and well defined bass; cannot beat it for the $ (I collect unused scrap at work whenever I see it). Over the years I have settled on single runs per channel; I twist all the solids together for "+" and all the stripeys for "-". Dual runs (one "+", the other "-") twisted together, or hybrid triplet runs (for, e.g., "biwiring", as James Melhuish uses) are fine, too, but not audibly superior IMNSHO.

    Mine are terminated with spade lugs and/or banana plugs, depending on the speaker.

    I cannot vouch for CAT5's use in amps that have stability problems with reactive loads, though.

    Living room speakers are Altec Valencias, QUAD ESL-57s, and DIY massloaded, folded TQWTs designed by Bob Brines. Power is EICO HF-81 (pushpull EL84).

    EDIT: You can read about James' cables at: http://www.melhuish.org/audio/JMsystem.html
    They look nicer than mine!
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited January 2008
    This seems to be one of those things that is very popular elsewhere but not on this board, kinda like SB3s and gainclones. Not sure why some people generally dislike them, yet Kimber seems to be quite popular (8TC is the same concept).

    Personally I love my Cat5 wire. It works great and was cheap. The only reason I switched for my main rig is I only needed 2ft runs and didn't feel like braiding again.

    Audioholics had a nice DIY speaker cable shootout a while back, located here. Guess which cable won the top 5 spots?
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2008
    I'm also a fan of high capacitance speaker cable, but it will not sound good with every setup.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
    edited January 2008
    LOL! No it really was not a challenge. I am in no situation to compare wires. I have auditioned and tried as many as I could, normally by testing other audiophile freaks systems. I am sure you guys have listened to probably every possible kind out there.

    It would truly be a learning experience for me to have the opportunity to hear these wires and be able to hear a difference. I have yet to concur any significance.

    Yes, I had a close friend try out the cat cables. Perhaps it was a crappy job. LMAO.

    I am all ears.

    Halen
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,646
    edited January 2008
    Ummm...ok. :confused:
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited January 2008
    Hi,
    I have been using the VH Audio designed speaker wire for years. I used teflon coated wire with 27 pairs as per Chris's website. I think it was about $80 for the wire. I used crimp on spade connectors. I could only compare it to the sound king type I have. I think the cat 5 sounds much better. The sound king was lumpy bass and veiled highs. I have thought of buying other types but have a hard time justifying the $200- $300 to make a real noticeable difference. All the VH Audio wire I have used for power cords has been an improvement over the other types-Signal Cable, PS Audio. I know its all just wire but I definitely know my system sounds better than ever. YMMV
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • charliez
    charliez Posts: 72
    edited January 2008
    wow!! Yes, I made a pair but not tested yet. I´ll try do the test next weekend.


    Thanks!
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