Cat 5e as stereo patch cable??

[DUSNOETOS]

OK

here is my dilemma.... I want to run audio from my computer to my stereo amp. The problem is the distance between the two; regardless of the type of wire I run I will need about 30 ft. (to nicely hide the wires...)

I could go out and buy a long patch cable but I am a cheep skate and don't want to (or afford to...).

But i have a ton of Cat 5e. I am wondering if I could use that cable and splice on RCA plug ends. since their are 8 wires in a CAT5 cable I would split it in half 4 for right 4 for left. 2 wires for signal and 2 for the ground (for each channel).
(if this is not clear I can try and draw up a diagram of what I mean)

Any one know if this would work or not.

(my other thought is to use 2 coax cables - but I am not sure if I have enough cable.)

[imposter]

I don't think so as cat5 cable is a pretty low gauge cable meaning it can't carry high amperage. so unless your wiring 2 watt speakers, i don't think this will work :(

Check out monoprice.com they are usually VERY cheap when it comes to cables.

edit: in response to bundle them up, cat5 wire is gauge 24 meaning each wire can run up to 0.57 amps, meaning your going to need to bundle a whole bunch of them together to get this to work, and if your math isn't right you can create a fire hazard because if a wire is drawing too many amps the wire will get hot and start melting.

[DUSNOETOS]

I don't think so as cat5 cable is a pretty low gauge cable meaning it can't carry high amperage. so unless your wiring 2 watt speakers, i don't think this will work

NO, I think you mis-understand. I just want to send the audio signal from my computer to my amp - so I can listen to streaming Internet radio on my home Stereo

[Mizuno]

Using CAT 5 as signal wire will work. Crutchfield.com even has an article in their how-to section explaining that exact scenario.

[DUSNOETOS]

Using CAT 5 as signal wire will work. Crutchfield.com even has an article in their how-to section explaining that exact scenario.

can you link the article please

[AtomicMonkey]

I would have preferred running an audio cable but I ran 5e cables circa 50ft the way you plan to with no ill effects as far as my ears could distinguish. Granted it was to my bedroom which could hardly be considered a premiere listening chamber with an amp and speakers to match but still, it was all good.

[jivetrky]

I remember seeing some pair of supposedly "high end" speakers that used an RJ45 connector to go from the AMP to the sattelites...

I'd imagine it would work just fine. And especially since it's just an input signal, not amplified it should work just fine, i would think.

[MARCI]

Worst that can happen is you burn the house down.. That's why we have insurance. Just don't forget to document your Rembrandt, or the Stradivarius your uncle left in the guest room when he visited,

[Mizuno]

can you link the article please

http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/home/inwall_wiring.html?page=3
^^There's the segment of the article that mentions it.

From the article:
Ethernet cable (CAT-5, -5e, -6)
There are a number of uses for Ethernet cable — like creating a wired computer network, or carrying audio/video and control signals in a whole-house system. This family of cables is often referred to as CAT-5, but these days, you'll likely be installing CAT-5e or CAT-6. These newer cables are able to pass more data, and send that data at a faster rate. CAT-5e and CAT-6 products are backwards compatible with devices designed to work with CAT-5 cable.

The benefits of using Ethernet cable to pass audio/video signals
The use of Ethernet cable for whole-house audio/video systems is growing more popular. Ethernet cables stand up to interference better than speaker or audio/video cables, even the common unshielded variety, called "UTP" (unshielded twisted pair). Running long lengths of Ethernet cable can also be more cost-effective than running long lengths of audio/video cable.

[DUSNOETOS]

http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/lea...ng.html?page=3
^^There's the segment of the article that mentions it.

From the article:

Quote:
Ethernet cable (CAT-5, -5e, -6)
There are a number of uses for Ethernet cable — like creating a wired computer network, or carrying audio/video and control signals in a whole-house system. This family of cables is often referred to as CAT-5, but these days, you'll likely be installing CAT-5e or CAT-6. These newer cables are able to pass more data, and send that data at a faster rate. CAT-5e and CAT-6 products are backwards compatible with devices designed to work with CAT-5 cable.

The benefits of using Ethernet cable to pass audio/video signals
The use of Ethernet cable for whole-house audio/video systems is growing more popular. Ethernet cables stand up to interference better than speaker or audio/video cables, even the common unshielded variety, called "UTP" (unshielded twisted pair). Running long lengths of Ethernet cable can also be more cost-effective than running long lengths of audio/video cable.

Yes...but this is in refence to using Balun. I am wanting to solder on my own rca connecters...

[DUSNOETOS]

well....Unles some one pipes up in the next few minutes I am gonna give it a try...I have end's I can use already.

While I am no expert, I have a decent knowledge of wiring. So the only thing that I can see being an issue is a higher resistance than standard unbalanced cable. Question is: will the resistance be enough to cause problems??

Worst that can happen is you burn the house down.. That's why we have insurance. Just don't forget to document your Rembrandt, or the Stradivarius your uncle left in the guest room when he visited,
While I am sure your post was in jest....you do add a touch of paranoia to the mix. But one thing that is true...while expensive insurance can be a life saver in a disaster. (this also reminds me that I need to update my renters insurance due to my recent move...:))

[DUSNOETOS]

Well.... on a basic level it works.

BUT, as I suspected it would appear that line resistance was to high. The sound volume was inconsistent. it was like there was an osculation to the voulume...up down up down. It was not a large amount but just enough to be annoying.

[DUSNOETOS]

Not that any one seems to care about this thread any more...

I have picked up some cheep(ish) RG6 coax that I will use for the cabling from my PC to my stereo.

As I knew it would the Coax works wonderfully.

[nightelph]

No reason to be a cheapskate. ;) Here's a 50' audio patch cable for $2.47: LINK (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=647&seq=1&format=2)

[DUSNOETOS]

No reason to be a cheapskate. ;) Here's a 50' audio patch cable for $2.47: LINK (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=647&seq=1&format=2)

Thanks for the offer...I actually had that item bookmarked. But if you check out their premium cable; it is coax.

I was able to get my hands on 100ft of High-Quality RG6 coax for $16:) (just 14¢ more than the premium 50ft cable from mono price would have cost with shipping.:shrug:
I soldered on my own connectors (witch I already had...).
Sure I had to tape two proper lengths of coax together (minor annoyance)

My cable is 50 feet long and has cleaner more dynamic sound than the mid-grade 10ft patch cable I used in my old apartment. It also removed the low hum my sub made?? (must be a grounding issue?)

So I am happy and did not not have to wait a week to have a cable shipped to me.

[pinky33]

OK

here is my dilemma.... I want to run audio from my computer to my stereo amp. The problem is the distance between the two; regardless of the type of wire I run I will need about 30 ft. (to nicely hide the wires...)

I could go out and buy a long patch cable but I am a cheep skate and don't want to (or afford to...).

But i have a ton of Cat 5e. I am wondering if I could use that cable and splice on RCA plug ends. since their are 8 wires in a CAT5 cable I would split it in half 4 for right 4 for left. 2 wires for signal and 2 for the ground (for each channel).
(if this is not clear I can try and draw up a diagram of what I mean)

Any one know if this would work or not.

(my other thought is to use 2 coax cables - but I am not sure if I have enough cable.)


If you used two separate cat5 cables, one for left and one for right it would have been much better. Basically higher gauge total.

I remember seeing some pair of supposedly "high end" speakers that used an RJ45 connector to go from the AMP to the sattelites...

I'd imagine it would work just fine. And especially since it's just an input signal, not amplified it should work just fine, i would think.

You are thinking of this

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

And yes they work very very well for the cost.

Thanks for the offer...I actually had that item bookmarked. But if you check out their premium cable; it is coax.

I was able to get my hands on 100ft of High-Quality RG6 coax for $16:) (just 14¢ more than the premium 50ft cable from mono price would have cost with shipping.:shrug:
I soldered on my own connectors (witch I already had...).
Sure I had to tape two proper lengths of coax together (minor annoyance)

My cable is 50 feet long and has cleaner more dynamic sound than the mid-grade 10ft patch cable I used in my old apartment. It also removed the low hum my sub made?? (must be a grounding issue?)

So I am happy and did not not have to wait a week to have a cable shipped to me.


Your woofer has no feedback now because coax has much higher shielding. Or in other words something was interfering with the cable before and now it is not.