andy.cytexone Posted December 26, 2005 Share Posted December 26, 2005 I found a very interesting thread I thought I should share with anyone making their own component cables.http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-498765.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chambrick Posted December 28, 2005 Share Posted December 28, 2005 ...never heard of speaker wire for that purpose before.I use Liberty wire's connector kit and connectors along with their serial digital cable. Pretty quick and easy way to make good quality custom sized cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cytexone Posted December 29, 2005 Author Share Posted December 29, 2005 Definitely worth a look, chambrick. Regarding the speaker wire, it's not actually speaker wire. It's thin coax cable - RG59U. We just ordered a big spool, and I'll let you guys know how it goes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All Wired Up! Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 We use bundled 5 wire mini-cable. It absolutely rocks. 1/4 inch across so its small and flexible (even fits in surface mount wire tracking) and I can get $3 Ft over cost. Liberty plus many others (windy city, AVAD, ETC) carry it. It's also much lighter to carry than RG6 bundled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chambrick Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 That mini is a 22 gauge conductor I think, Liberty also makes a 5 wire RG59 serial digital (20 gauge). I haven't used the mini so let me know what your results are. I know the distance is a little less than the 20 but I wonder i there are any other differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebaugh Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 We have used mini-RGB from Belden for awhile now and it works great. If you are using separate RG6 or RG59 make certain that you keep the lengths very close to each other else you may get into an issue whereby the color info for the other wires is slightly out of phase with each other. When we use separate coax, we measure out one and pull the other two and tape them every foot or so and keep the cables in line so as to not twist and allow one to get longer than the others. we then trim to length and can usually keep a 30' run within an inch of each other. We initially used the 26 awg mini-RGB cable form Belden and quickly got away from it since the center conductor was too fragile and a pain to terminate. We changed to the 24 awg and while you need to develop a good technique, we have been successful with that size. We usually carry a spool of 3 conductor and 6 conductor in our truck. You typically buy it in 250 or 500 foot wooden spools. We purchase the 3 conductor for about $.90/foot and we use GEM connecotrs that usually cost approx $2.70 each in gold. We resell the the custom cables for $3.00/foot (terminated) for 20' or more and the 6 conductor for $5.00/foot terminated.We use the 6 conductor mini-RGB coax for situations where we may need the flexibilityof acheiving the following:1.) 2- component, if we do not have a component switching receiver.2.) 1 component, 1 S-video (2 coax) and 1 composite.3.) 1 component, 1 composite and stereo audio pair from the built-in tuner in the set back to an amp or audio dist system to play over the in-wall or in-ceiling speakers.You do need to take care in pulling these wires since the jacket is a rubber material that has a high coefficient of friction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chambrick Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Yes, and make sure you get the in-wall rated wire. Many companies make both interconnect versions and in-wall rated versions where the in-wall has a slightly different jacket that is not quite so succeptable to friction.pebaugh, have you actually noticed issues with cables being a few inches longer/shorter causing the phase issue? We have never taken that much care to keep the wires in line (and we are pretty anal when it comes to wiring), and haven't noticed any issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATOH Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 Audioquest ITC connectors. No tools, work great, their cable is nice and flexible. We love them.http://www.audioquest.com/Look under the custom install tab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBOZ Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 ATOHDo they have connectors for Belden Mini RGB model HC2650R, it is 25AWG. I really need to find some good connectors. We have been using the ProConnect one from AVAD, but they suck. To many pieces one, and they break, dont work, missing parts in new bag, etc.. I have been looking at other brands, but want something easy and reliable. I have also tried the Belden ends that are two piece without much luck. Thanks for any info. Anybody else that knows of a good connector for Belden MINI I would appreciate it.BOZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS2 Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 I like Belden 1418B 5 conductor cable. It's not too thick to pull but it's solid and you can terminate it with King BNCs. Solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chambrick Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 BOZI think Liberty has some connectors for that cable because they have a mini too. I've never used because I can't get myself to go with a wire that small. The bigger wire seems easier to terminate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrikinCurt Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 ATOH - Glad you like the AudioQuest stuff. We just switched (placed our order today). We are excited to be able to sell a cable that we can be proud of (silver conductor, great reputation, etc), instead of trying to make cheap crap work!Anyway, just glad it seems to really do what it says. We used the connectors and CES and were very impressed, and I thought compression was easy!Curt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All Wired Up! Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 BOZI think Liberty has some connectors for that cable because they have a mini too. I've never used because I can't get myself to go with a wire that small. The bigger wire seems easier to terminate.Once you go mini, you'll never go back. 1/4" across for 5 wires, very flexible, solid performance. I can get 10 A/V interconnects and a control wire to a TV inside of 3/4" tracking. Not to mention the easy of carrying, space savings in van, and easy of despooling. It's too sweet to deny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meyerssb Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Do you have any signal degradation with the mini? Is it shielded? What kind of cost difference do you see? All I keep hearing from people is "go bigger". This is the first "go smaller" I've heard anywhere. Just. curious.Blake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All Wired Up! Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 I've been told you can typically go 100' before you see signal degradation. I've not gone over 75' or so. Yes, it's shielded with foil and braid. Each wire also has an outer jacket and it's bundled in a thick outer jacket. We pay about $1.15 a foot for 5 conductor mini and about $2.50 a RCA connector (Beldin). We sell for $4 a foot plus $3 a connector. There is no technical reason to use a thicker wire over these distances. Of course not all mini is the same so you should do due diligence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meyerssb Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Sounds like something to look into. It will certainly save on space when pulling it through conduit.Blake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 ATOH - Glad you like the AudioQuest stuff. We just switched (placed our order today). We are excited to be able to sell a cable that we can be proud of (silver conductor, great reputation, etc), instead of trying to make cheap crap work!Anyway, just glad it seems to really do what it says. We used the connectors and CES and were very impressed, and I thought compression was easy!CurtWe have been using AudioQuest for some time now and love all of their products. There will be times when you will end up with a short in your connection. The tips can be reused a few times. Finish your cables with heat shrink and your costs per cable will soar!Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS2 Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 What is a good distributer of AudioQuest cables/terminations? also, does anyone know of a company that sells a bundled cable of 3 or 4 CAT5e's? that would be nice to pull to each TV location along with component...as2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBOZ Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 ChambrickDo you have a model number for the bundled RG59 (5-wire). I could not find it on their website, might just be overlooking it. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBOZ Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Chambrick, Never mind. Found it. Do you like Liberty connectors or another brand better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATOH Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 ATOHDo they have connectors for Belden Mini RGB model HC2650R, it is 25AWG. I really need to find some good connectors. We have been using the ProConnect one from AVAD, but they suck. To many pieces one, and they break, dont work, missing parts in new bag, etc.. I have been looking at other brands, but want something easy and reliable. I have also tried the Belden ends that are two piece without much luck. Thanks for any info. Anybody else that knows of a good connector for Belden MINI I would appreciate it.BOZSome of the Audioquest connectors MAY work with that cable. We use the ITC-18 connectors with HD6X cable. Supposedly you can use the connectors with other cables within a certain width range. I have used them with regular RG6 and Quad shield (the F connectors). If they don't have those width ranges on their website let me know and I'll dig up the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATOH Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 ATOH - Glad you like the AudioQuest stuff. We just switched (placed our order today). We are excited to be able to sell a cable that we can be proud of (silver conductor' date=' great reputation, etc), instead of trying to make cheap crap work!Anyway, just glad it seems to really do what it says. We used the connectors and CES and were very impressed, and I thought compression was easy!Curt[/quote']We have been using AudioQuest for some time now and love all of their products. There will be times when you will end up with a short in your connection. The tips can be reused a few times. Finish your cables with heat shrink and your costs per cable will soar!RobYes, you will have a short occasionally. Just look REALLY close for strands of the braid to be wrapped around the center conductor. Make sure to follow their instructions on their site. It makes it SO much easier.There isn't a distributor that sells Audioquest. AQ does have a systems integrator program and shipping is free over $200. That's easy to meet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chambrick Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Chambrick, Never mind. Found it. Do you like Liberty connectors or another brand better.I really like the liberty connectors. I've tried others and had the most success with them (fewest mistakes with shorts, etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbinnovations Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 We recently bought some Planet Waves cable and connectors and will be trying them out. Very good quality and extremely convenient termination.Anyone else used Planet Waves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirill Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Anything wrong with Belden 1694a cable and Canare connectors ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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