[DJ bradderz]

Hi all,

I know this has probably been discussed before, but searching doesnt bring anything up.

Can you use Cat5 or Cat6 cable for audio? im thinking of using it as a small multicore for an install at church.
Is there any advantage for using Cat6 in this way over Cat5?

Thanks
Brad

[Brian]

DJ bradderz, on 02 August 2012 - 02:13 PM, said:

Can you use Cat5 or Cat6 cable for audio?

For balanced audio, yes.

[azlan]

are you planning on using Cat5 as a multicore cable with XLR's (or similar) on the end, or do you mean can you put audio over ethernet cable with RJ45 (computer network style) connectors on the end with or without running over a network? the answer is yes to both, but they have very different approaches

[DJ bradderz]

I was going to experiment with making little stage boxes with balanced XLRs, and to this type of thing to the cat5, then along to the desk through the cat5, then stage box converter to XLRs into the desk. Its more an experiment to use in the future really

[smalljoshua]

Why don't you put an ethercon onto the box for the multipin?

Josh

[DJ bradderz]

well these connectors seemed fairly cheap compared with other mutipins (such as ethercon) so I was just gonna do a small test with a short multicore to start with, then if it works well, make a longer multicore for use at events such as at church

[Hilary Watts]

See this topic for a very elegant practical solution using a similar idea

[Oldradiohand]

It's twisted pair - you can send line level balanced (preferably transformer) analogue audio over it for leagues. You'll get a bit of HF loss after the first couple of miles, though. Nothing you can't equalise out.

[Yorkie]

How would Cat 5 etc cope with Phantom power?

[bruce]

Yorkie, on 02 August 2012 - 11:31 PM, said:

How would Cat 5 etc cope with Phantom power?

I'd guess it'd be Ok if you used one of the other cores as a ground. But I'd be wary about using unscreened cat5 for mic level signals. I've regularly sent line level audio over hundreds of metres of cat5 and similar cables, but wouldn't dream of doing that at mic level.

[timd]

Yorkie, on 02 August 2012 - 11:31 PM, said:

How would Cat 5 etc cope with Phantom power?

Fine if you use FTP (shielded). Otherwise, there's no ground path, so phantom can't work. You can also sacrifice a pair to use for a ground connection to use phantom.