[brybell]

Hey, 
 
I have some extra cat5e lying around and wanted to make some cables and do a little DIY.
 
What is cat5 good for? I could use some rca to rca interconnects or stereo mini plug to rca. Would cat5 be good for either of these applications?
 
After researching online I know in general how to make some cables, but can't find much detailed info.
 
Any info would help, thanks! I would also like any recommended DIY projects for audio diy beginners Thanks!

 

[Zaubertuba]

Cat5e is actually pretty good quality stuff--check out what Chris VenHaus has done with it: http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html
 
I use it all the time for projects for my low-voltage stuff.  It's cheap to find and easy to work with.  Maybe some litz-braided interconnects would be fun.

 
Do spend some time and pour over these threads, the first might already have answers to some of your questions:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/676402/diy-cable-questions-and-comments-thread
 
....the second's a good place to get ideas and, um, drool over other people's excellent work... 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery
 
 
I've been out for a long time, so welcome to the forums, btw, and...sorry about your wallet! 

 

 

[TrollDragon]

Cat5 cable is good for lan wiring inside walls.

You should really have a look at the DIY Cable Gallery and ask any questions in the DIY Questions and Comments thread.

Linked above!

 

[brybell]

  Cat5e is actually pretty good quality stuff--check out what Chris VenHaus has done with it: http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html
 
I use it all the time for projects for my low-voltage stuff.  It's cheap to find and easy to work with.  Maybe some litz-braided interconnects would be fun.

 
Do spend some time and pour over these threads, the first might already have answers to some of your questions:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/676402/diy-cable-questions-and-comments-thread
 
....the second's a good place to get ideas and, um, drool over other people's excellent work... 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/71148/diy-cable-gallery
 
 
I've been out for a long time, so welcome to the forums, btw, and...sorry about your wallet! 

 

 
 
Thanks!!

 

[Speedskater]

Cat5 can be good for speaker cables, if you lots of it.
Cat5 can be good for balanced interconnects, but there is fine print on hooking it up.
Cat5 most likely will be bad for unbalanced RCA interconnects.

 

[superjawes]

My guess is that your Cat5 is solid copper as opposed to stranded. That means that it won't be very flexible. So it should be good for RCA interconnects and even speaker wire, but you probably want some stranded cable if you're replacing headphone cables.