Ethernet cable for balanced audio?

[ppataki]

Does anybody here have experience with using an ethernet cable as a balanced interconnect?

I was thinking that I would give it a try, just for fun
I was searching for it online and apparently I am not the first to think about this:

Unlike in the above picture I am planning to use 3 pairs of cables for 1 channel (so one pair will be unused)

I got this cable, it is Cat 8.2 with 4 pairs of AWG22 cables

During the weekend I shall have time to finish all the soldering and then I will give it a try in my home office system (where I currently use Sommer Epilogue interconnects)

 

[JayGilb]

While I have not personally used ethernet cat cables for analog audio, a few companies sell these type of cables.
Ethernet Audio Cables

 

[sergeauckland]

Works fine. I've wired up our local FM station using STP (Screened Twisted Pair) Cat 5 cable which provides for 4 circuits, as well as larger cables which have 8 or 16 circuits.

The only issue with it is that it's not very good for flexible connections, but for permanent installation, it's probably the most efficient and cheapest option.

S.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Since it's a cable, it will carry a signal.

 

[AnalogSteph]

We only had that discussion recently, in here:

Is coax 75ohm stupid legacy for home use?

That is interesting - and not totally surprising. Any cable capable of Gb/s data over 100m should stomp all over audio stuff. But why are we not using it? Not expensive enough? S

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Devnull]

I used STP Ethernet cable between my DSP and subwoofer amp with screw terminals and.euroblock connectors. Works like a champ.

A downside you might need to address is strain relief if you split the pairs into multiple connectors. Might try some heat shrink or tape to increase the diameter so the connectors strain relief engages the conductors.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I have wired my entire apartment for AES72 connections. It supports balanced analog, unbalanced analog, S/PDIF, AES/EBU and 12v trigger connections.
Additional sources for interface include StudioHub and Thomann. I particularly like the sssnake units.

Love it.

 

[ppataki]

Thank you everybody for all your comments, appreciated
So apparently this shall indeed be a good idea
Let me finish the cables and then I will report back

 

[Kal Rubinson]

For those who might want to "dip their toes" into AES72, these Amazon cheapies work just fine and prove that the technology is robust.

 

[Speedskater]

Pros have been using CAT cable for balanced line level interconnects, for a long time. Unshielded Bonded Pair CAT cable is as noise & interference resistant as must Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cables.
But phantom mic cables are trickier.

 

[ppataki]

I have prepared the cables:

And this is the finished product:

I will need to make three of these (since I have a three-channel 2.1 system in my home office) then I will take a listen and report back

 

[unpluggged]

I have prepared the cables:

View attachment 402609

And this is the finished product:

View attachment 402610

I will need to make three of these (since I have a three-channel 2.1 system in my home office) then I will take a listen and report back

Why are you using three pairs when you need only one + shield?

 

[ppataki]

Why are you using three pairs when you need only one + shield?

I use one pair for hot, one pair for cold and one pair for ground

 

[AnalogSteph]

I use one pair for hot, one pair for cold and one pair for ground

 

[Speedskater]

Don't do that.
Each balanced signal should use just one pair Hot & Cold.
There is no Ground wire in a balanced interconnect, Pin #1 is the Shield.

 

[EERecordist]

Dave Rat is a respected live sound engineer. He is easily found on the Internet.

He has evaluated audio over twisted pair cables otherwise designed for Ethernet. Ethernet with the rise and fall times far exceeds the needs of analog audio. I'm an electrical engineer. Twisted pairs are designed as a transmission line. I'm not worried about the RJ45 connector transition in audio.

In the home with balanced in and out it is a great in-wall solution I use it with 4 individually shielded twisted pairs cable.

 

[ppataki]

Don't do that.
Each balanced signal should use just one pair Hot & Cold.
There is no Ground wire in a balanced interconnect, Pin #1 is the Shield.

I have assigned one pair as hot, one pair as cold and one pair as shield, like this:

Is this wrong from a signal transmission perspective? Will there be any loss?

btw. I just hooked it up in my system and it sounds great (I hear no difference vs. with the Epilogue cables that cost 50x more)

 

[unpluggged]

Is this wrong from a signal transmission perspective?

Yes. You should read on how differential transmission works and why it uses twisted pairs.

 

[ppataki]

Yes. You should read on how differential transmission works and why it uses twisted pairs.

How would you suggest doing it then?

 

[unpluggged]

How would you suggest doing it then?

As it had been described here already. One conductor of a pair for hot (the tip), the other of the same pair for the cold (the ring), and the shield connects to the sleeve. The other two pairs can be removed from the cable, if possible.