Running audio over CAT5
Posted by: Kerosene on: July 12, 2008
Today I spent a few hours reading about how using CAT5 to send analog audio around my house was a bad idea, so I thought I’d try it anyway. I bought a $1 network cable and cut in half, I then used the two halves to make two RJ45(8P8C)>RCA adapters. I untwisted and re-paired the CAT5 (see below) and then soldered them to some RCA connectors.
I’m way too lazy to make a graphical diagram, so this will have to do:
Blue/Orange > Left RCA tip
Blue+White/Orange+White > Left RCA shield
Green/Brown > Right RCA tip
Green+White/Brown+White > Right RCA shield
Then I plugged it all in. And it fkn works!
I’ve now got my Delta-66 running an unbalanced line level stereo signal via CAT5 to my hifi in another room. Both ends terminate with my DIY adapters. No noise, no fuzz, just good old fashioned analog audio running over wires like it’s supposed to.
2 Responses to "Running audio over CAT5"
March 21, 2009 at 8:22 am
To clarify the earlier post, the grounds I’m referring to are the electrical mains system grounds.
The same caution would apply to a very long RCA cable connecting two pieces of gear on different AC circuits.
If everything’s on a common rack, this is never a problem.
Two racks at different locations might. Or might not. Personally, I wouldn’t risk it if the equipment isn’t on the same AC circuit.
Leave a Reply
Recent Comments
 | Ellen on Stephen Fry vs James May |
 | Todd on Zappa. |
 | modern warfare 2 for… on COD Modern Warfare 2 |
 | Mat B on $69 RC plane |
 | tedjowulan rocka pol… on I love feathercuts |
 | j-ster on Zappa. |
 | Makell Bird on Jaki Crush |
 | Scott Willis on 1984. I’d prefer to read… |
 | Oscar Lozano Giménez on Reach Whirlwind |
 | Kerosene on I love feathercuts |
My Flickr photos
|
March 21, 2009 at 8:09 am
Kerosine,
Glad to hear you had good success. Be warned that you can smoke your gear by doing this without using baluns (transformers) at both ends. The reason is the outer/ground connection of the RCA plugs can be at different potentials if the gear you’re interconnecting are not attached to the exact same ground. This can cause currents to flow between your gear that should not be there.
The transformer eliminates any DC current path between the end equipment. It couples the signal through a magnetic field inside the transformer so both ends are electrically isolated and can safely be at independent ground reference points with no adverse effects.
I would strongly recommend only skipping the transformer if you know both ends of the cable are attached to gear that is on the same electrical circult with a common electrical ground.
Otherwise, buzzing is probably the *least* serious outcome.
Anyways, glad it’s working for you.
– ross