Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 84
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 84 |
Another day, another standard.... HDBaseTI don't know if this one will catch on but I hope it does. I can wire Cat5e in my sleep... Given that I'm ripping out the existing drywall as a first step in my Home Theater remodel anyway I figure I might as well pull cable for HDBaseT just in case. My question is, Should I run an Ethernet cable to each speaker location? Will speakers ever conceivably use it or are they analog forever and always? I really hate ripping out drywall...
M22's x 3, QS8's x 4 SVS PC12-Plus, Denon 3311ci Ear-to-ear grin? Priceless!
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
Speakers will only ever use digital connections if they have built-in amplifiers with D/A converters. The speakers's engine (the voice coil and magnet assembly) is an analog device. Unless somebody invents an entirely new way to push and pull air in a way that creates sound, I don't think you have anything to worry about.
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466 |
Meridian did make digtial-to-the-speaker connections from their receivers. It used MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing), which then became the basis of the DVD-Audio format, and then was purchased by Dolby for the core of the TrueHD format. But now with all the DRM encumbrances I don't imagine we'll be seeing another digital speaker connection. Not that it made a lot of sense back then either. Although I would like to see more "active" speakers with built in amps, active crossovers, and line-level connections.
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 504
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 504 |
Some Meridian speakers use Cat 5 to connect speakers. They also have other digital connection options. http://www.meridian-audio.com/product-mo...oudspeaker.aspxBut, if you have money for those speakers then you are on the wrong board.
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 504
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 504 |
Whoa, deja vu. Simultaneous posts about the same thing.
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466 |
Hah, beat you to it. But I didn't even bother to look if they still made such a thing (they do).
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 84
old hand
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 84 |
I've got a lottery ticket in my pocket so you never know... Aww what the heck I'll have a 1000' foot spool of cable anyway. I think I'll just add a Cat5e to the speaker pulls. (huh, I wonder what gauge cat5e is? Would it work for....) Although to be fair if I was stepping things up to that level I'd probably have to rip out the drywall again anyway.
Last edited by Scamp; 07/30/10 10:03 PM.
M22's x 3, QS8's x 4 SVS PC12-Plus, Denon 3311ci Ear-to-ear grin? Priceless!
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466 |
People have used two runs of Cat5 as speaker wire, with the 8 solids, and the 8 stripes combined from each run.
I tired it with one run, the 4 and 4, as pos and neg. I will say that's the first time I've heard wire make a difference in sound. Not a good difference mind you, the bass was gone.
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,444 Likes: 16
connoisseur
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connoisseur
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Cat5, I think, is 24 gauge. Not large enough for much more than a 4-20 milliamp signal.
Future proofing is almost an impossibility. Wireless will probably be ready for prime time before too much longer, so you'll most likely need 110V for each speaker before you would net ethernet.
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 84
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 84 |
Cat5, I think, is 24 gauge. Not large enough for much more than a 4-20 milliamp signal. Each strand is 24 gauge, but if you braid them it makes it plausible but not reasonable. . Wireless will probably be ready for prime time before too much longer, I've been hearing that related to a number of applications since about the mid 80's.
Last edited by Scamp; 07/31/10 02:48 AM.
M22's x 3, QS8's x 4 SVS PC12-Plus, Denon 3311ci Ear-to-ear grin? Priceless!
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Re: Wireing for HDbaseT
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
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The future is always 5 years away.
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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