Old Thin-Net Cables As Audio Cables

[Peter Snow]

Hi Scott,

I have been using RG58 and RG62 thin coax for guitar cords and patch cords (1/4" plugs)
for quite a number of years and have never had trouble with noise or signal loss. In fact
I prefer my home brew patch cords to commercially bought ones. However this is purely a
subjective opinion - I have done no tests to verify electrically what my ears hear. 
The type of cable I use most is RG62 (the old Arcnet cable) with stranded centre conductor
and plastic sleeving which bends quite easily. It is also quite chunky so it fits nice and
snug into the 1/4" jack housing. I also have other types of coax - like the skinny type
with solid centre conductor and teflon sleeving which are not so bendy. This works OK for
short cords that just need a gentle "U" bend. But as soon as you start to use this type
for longer runs where some of it may be coiled up, it seems to act like a spring and
becomes almost uncontrollable!

I have not tried it as speaker cable.

Cheers,

Peter

Scott Gravenhorst wrote:
> 
> I have a pile, like 10 or 12, of the coax cables for thin-net,
> you know, the crappy BNC network system that seems to get
> wierd for no reason.  I have completely expunged my network
> at home of these in preference for twisted pair cables.  So
> now I have alot of cable.  What do you all think of using this
> cable with 1/4 plugs as audio cable?  I know these cables are
> solid conductor and won't take alot of bending, but for
> more or less permanent hookups, such as from rack mounted
> sound modules into my mixer?  I would think they would give
> a fairly low resistance connection.  Heck, even as speaker
> cables.  Anyway, it's a shame that they just sit here.
> 
> -- Scott Gravenhorst : On The Edge, but the Edge of What?
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