Cat5e and Audio

[Rick Measham]

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?
2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?
3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be shielded?
4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

Cheers!
Rick Measham

 

[David L. Jones]

Agent " 86 " Ž wrote:

"Rick Measham" <maildump@isite.net.au> wrote in message
news:43bc6df2$1_7@news.peopletelecom.com.au...
I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?
2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?
3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be
shielded?
4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

Cheers!
Rick Measham

Wires are out , wireless is in

Interestingly, there is a new start-up in Sydney developing the latest
in wireless surround speakers and audio stuff. Yes, wireless is
probably the next big thing, but you can't beat having copper in your
walls.
It sure was a pain in the !@# to install my surround speakers!

Dave

 

[Phil Allison]

"David L. Jones"

** Some idiot posted:

Wires are out , wireless is in

** Four legs good - two legs baaaaad .....

Interestingly, there is a new start-up in Sydney developing the latest
in wireless surround speakers and audio stuff.

** Shame about all the damn AC power cables - isnt it ?


Shame most Aussie start ups are blatant criminal scams.




......... Phil

 

[Agent \" 86 \" Ž]

"Phil Allison" <philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:4242d7F1h1frtU1@individual.net...

"Agent " 86 " Ž"

** This parasitic TROLL is a brain dead fuckwit.



** Some idiot posted:

Wires are out , wireless is in


** Four legs good - two legs baaaaad .....


Interestingly, there is a new start-up in Sydney developing the
latest
in wireless surround speakers and audio stuff.


** Shame about all the damn AC power cables - isnt it ?


Not really , there are Lithium battery based systems ,


** See what I mean ?

Anencephalic autism at its worst.


however the best part
is total musical control in a house enviroment .


** It just gets worser and worser.


By that I mean you can have multiple players controlling different zones
or
total syncronisation of music , its all programmable and flexible to
suit
the enviroment , without getting it totally wrong in the installation
side.


** See what I mean ?

Anencephalic autism at it worst.

Ahh well , you,re a little behind in the scene , catch up or get left
further behind .

It also means that consultants are not really required and it puts the
power
back into the hands of the consumer .



** This cretin has very powerful hands.

Cos gets lots of practice using them.




.......... Phil

 

[Rick Measham]

Rick Measham wrote:

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

My God, what a weird direction this thread took. .. thank you all, I
guess. I think between all of your crud I learned a thing or two ..

Cheers!
Rick Measham

 

[Ken Taylor]

Rick Measham wrote:

Rick Measham wrote:

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.


My God, what a weird direction this thread took. .. thank you all, I
guess. I think between all of your crud I learned a thing or two ..

Cheers!
Rick Measham

Yeah, the usual animosities. Upshot is run shielded around the place. I
just did the same in my old villa - cat-5 for 'puters plus two audio to
the living areas, plus TV aerial and cable-TV to various locations. The
802.11 operates as well - I'm covered!

Cheers.

Ken

 

[Lord-Data]

"David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1136502277.353978.86750@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Rick Measham wrote:
I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?
2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?
3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be
shielded?
4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

Yes, forget Cat5 for audio stuff.
Definitely install proper heavy gauge speaker wire in the
"entertainment" room(s). Work out were your speakers are going now and
install the speaker wire for the entire system (fronts, rears etc). You
can get banana plug & RCA wall plates which are a good solution for
this. You should also run a shielded coax lead for the sub to where
ever it needs to go.

Where do you want to run all the other "audio" stuff to and for what
purpose?
A set of speaker wires out to the garage and/or back yard could come in
handy, you can then switch music out to those areas from your main
system.

Or setup an AirPort system for wireless audio delivery

Dave

 

[Fred At Home]

"Agent " 86 " Ž" <M.Smart@control.com> wrote in message
news:nu1vf.176536$V7.162296@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

"Rick Measham" <maildump@isite.net.au> wrote in message
news:43bc6df2$1_7@news.peopletelecom.com.au...
I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?
2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?
3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be
shielded?
4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

Cheers!
Rick Measham

Wires are out , wireless is in

Agent 86, I'd like to thank you. When I think I've read the most stupid,
useless, inappropriate message in any given thread, you manage to top it
every time. Did you train very long to be this fucking stupid?

 

[Fred At Home]

"Ken Taylor" <ken@home.nz> wrote in message
news:yB1wf.13421$vH5.692670@news.xtra.co.nz...

"Fred At Home" <fredhome@fscans.cjb.net> wrote in message
news:43c07bdd$0$18200$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

"Agent " 86 " Ž" <M.Smart@control.com> wrote in message
news:l63vf.179245$V7.154534@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

"Phil Allison" <philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:423ru8F1h3bj9U1@individual.net...

"David L. Jones"

** Some idiot posted:

Wires are out , wireless is in


** Four legs good - two legs baaaaad .....


Interestingly, there is a new start-up in Sydney developing the
latest
in wireless surround speakers and audio stuff.


** Shame about all the damn AC power cables - isnt it ?


Not really , there are Lithium battery based systems , however the best
part
is total musical control in a house enviroment .

By that I mean you can have multiple players controlling different
zones
or
total syncronisation of music , its all programmable and flexible to
suit
the enviroment , without getting it totally wrong in the installation
side.

It also means that consultants are not really required and it puts the
power
back into the hands of the consumer .

This NG is not aus.i'm.a.total.fuckwit.&.know.nothing.about.audio


"about.audio"?? Too selective IMO.

Ken

Yeah, I humbly apologise.

 

[dmm]

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 06:34:57 GMT, "Agent \" 86 \" Ž" <M.Smart@control.com> wrote:

Not really , there are Lithium battery based systems , however the best part
is total musical control in a house enviroment .

By that I mean you can have multiple players controlling different zones or
total syncronisation of music , its all programmable and flexible to suit
the enviroment , without getting it totally wrong in the installation side.

It also means that consultants are not really required and it puts the power
back into the hands of the consumer .

Are you talking about the Philips Streamium system? Saw one in Harvey Norman
yesterday. The base station is about $1500, and the satellites about $500.
Nice idea.

 

[Phil Allison]

"Rick Measham"

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

** Yep.

Cat 5 is for data - didn't you know ?



............ Phil

 

[Trevor Wilson]

"Rick Measham" <maildump@isite.net.au> wrote in message
news:43bc6df2$1_7@news.peopletelecom.com.au...

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's occurred
to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?

**Only if:

* The runs are VERY short and the speakers high impedance.
* You use LOTS of CAT5 runs.
* You don't want decetn quality sound.

2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?

**It MUST be sheilded. Or you could use CAT5 baluns at each end.

3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be
shielded?

**It MUST be sheilded. Or you could use CAT5 baluns at each end.

4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs) for
left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

**No.

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

**Much better.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

 

[Agent \" 86 \" Ž]

"Rick Measham" <maildump@isite.net.au> wrote in message
news:43bc6df2$1_7@news.peopletelecom.com.au...

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?
2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?
3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be
shielded?
4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

Cheers!
Rick Measham

Wires are out , wireless is in

 

[Wing]

"Agent \" 86 \" " <M.Smart@control.com> wrote:

Wires are out , wireless is in

You try pushing data though wireless at 1Gb/s. If you can show me a way to

do this cheaply I'll gladly ditch my switch.

Unless you are talking about wireless transmission of audio, in that cased
i don't know what I'm on about and I'll just shut up now.

--

Wing.

 

[Agent \" 86 \" Ž]

"Phil Allison" <philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
news:423ru8F1h3bj9U1@individual.net...

"David L. Jones"

** Some idiot posted:

Wires are out , wireless is in


** Four legs good - two legs baaaaad .....


Interestingly, there is a new start-up in Sydney developing the latest
in wireless surround speakers and audio stuff.


** Shame about all the damn AC power cables - isnt it ?

Not really , there are Lithium battery based systems , however the best part
is total musical control in a house enviroment .

By that I mean you can have multiple players controlling different zones or
total syncronisation of music , its all programmable and flexible to suit
the enviroment , without getting it totally wrong in the installation side.

It also means that consultants are not really required and it puts the power
back into the hands of the consumer .

Shame most Aussie start ups are blatant criminal scams.




........ Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

"Agent " 86 " Ž"

** This parasitic TROLL is a brain dead fuckwit.

** Some idiot posted:

Wires are out , wireless is in


** Four legs good - two legs baaaaad .....


Interestingly, there is a new start-up in Sydney developing the latest
in wireless surround speakers and audio stuff.


** Shame about all the damn AC power cables - isnt it ?


Not really , there are Lithium battery based systems ,

** See what I mean ?

Anencephalic autism at its worst.

however the best part
is total musical control in a house enviroment .

** It just gets worser and worser.

By that I mean you can have multiple players controlling different zones
or
total syncronisation of music , its all programmable and flexible to suit
the enviroment , without getting it totally wrong in the installation
side.

** See what I mean ?

Anencephalic autism at it worst.

It also means that consultants are not really required and it puts the
power
back into the hands of the consumer .

** This cretin has very powerful hands.

Cos gets lots of practice using them.




........... Phil

 

[Jasen Betts]

On 2006-01-05, Rick Measham <maildump@isite.net.au> wrote:

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?

at low power levels

2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?

it's probably best used with balanced signal, if you use transformeres at
each end to balance it you'd probably get acceptble performance.

3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be shielded?

seems same as Q2 to me.

4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

you'll definately need balanced lines for the audio with that setup.

running the speakers through transformers (ev 100V loudspeaker transformers)
could help with power but may increase crosstalk from speakers to
or may help... line level signals.

get a 100m case of cat5 and put your CD player and speakers on one and and
the amp on the other see what happens.

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

if you want to run speakers off cat5 the best way is probably to send the
sound information digitally and put the amp close to the speaker.

have you considered using cat-6?

--

Bye.
Jasen

 

[Phil Allison]

"Jasen Betts" <jasen@free.net.nospam.nz>


** Jasen is yet another Sheep Shagging FUCKWIT !!

Kiwis are all Baaaaaaaaaahhmy !!

4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

you'll definately need balanced lines for the audio with that setup.

** The cost of which is ENORMOUSLY more than simply using shielded
cables.

running the speakers through transformers (ev 100V loudspeaker
transformers)
could help with power but may increase crosstalk from speakers to
or may help... line level signals.

** JASEN is a PIG IGNORANT IDIOT

Jasen is a software writer.

get a 100m case of cat5 and put your CD player and speakers on one and and
the amp on the other see what happens.

** That is a VERY bad idea - JASEN !

Proves you have NO FUCKING IDEA of any of the ISSUES.

Jasen is a software writer.

if you want to run speakers off cat5 the best way is probably to send the
sound information digitally and put the amp close to the speaker.

** JASEN is another thick as pig shit, Sheep Shagger.

The IDIOT has NO FUCKING IDEA of any of the relevant ISSUES.

Jasen is a software writer.

have you considered using cat-6?

** May god forgive Jasen.

Cos I never fucking will.

He was given more than fair warning about posting wild guesses.




........ Phil

 

[David L. Jones]

Rick Measham wrote:

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?
2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?
3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be shielded?
4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4 pairs)
for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

Yes, forget Cat5 for audio stuff.
Definitely install proper heavy gauge speaker wire in the
"entertainment" room(s). Work out were your speakers are going now and
install the speaker wire for the entire system (fronts, rears etc). You
can get banana plug & RCA wall plates which are a good solution for
this. You should also run a shielded coax lead for the sub to where
ever it needs to go.

Where do you want to run all the other "audio" stuff to and for what
purpose?
A set of speaker wires out to the garage and/or back yard could come in
handy, you can then switch music out to those areas from your main
system.

Dave

 

[Chris Jones]

Rick Measham wrote:

I'm about to wire my new house (we're at the frame stage) with lots of
Cat5e and droplines for extra wiring in the future. However it's
occurred to me that I'd like to wire for audio too.

1. Can I use the Cat5e for speaker-level-output?
2. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-output, or does it need to be
shielded?
3. Can I use the Cat5e for line-level-input, or does it need to be
shielded? 4. If I can use it for line-level, can I use the same cable (4
pairs) for left-speaker, right-speaker, line-in and line-out?

Or am I better off running a pile of shielded cable around the place too
for any line-level work, and Fig-8 for speaker?

Cheers!
Rick Measham

Whatever kind of cable you install, in a few years it will be out of fashion
and you'll want a new sort. If you install conduits (with no sharp bends)
with draw wires then when you discover that you need some new-fangled Cat26
or some optical thing or whatever it is in 5 years, then you can install
it. Just be aware that there may also be some rules regarding the minimum
spacing between mains cables and phone cables and possibly also between
other types of cables, and they may not be allowed to run in the same
conduit. It might be worth looking up the rules on this so that you don't
run into problems later.

Chris