Recommendations for
Home Theater and High-End Audio
We get many requests to recommend various types of cable for home theater and high-end audio installations. Since Belden makes over five thousand standard products, and in the face of ever-changing technology, it is very difficult, even for the professional, to make correct choices.
So we have put together this suggested guide of wire and cable choices which, we feel, are particularly suited to these home applications. For more details on each cable, consult the appropriate catalog mentioned with each cable, or contact a Belden distributor. Connectors for Belden Coax/Twinax and Triax cables may be found in our connector cross-reference.
Some of the cables mentioned cross over between some categories. For instance, all of the digital audio cables will easily handle analog audio, but not the other way around! It is always easier to use one kind of cable for many applications than different cables for each.
|
Signal |
Type |
Part |
Description |
Why this Cable? |
Catalog |
|
Analog Audio |
Unbalanced |
1865A |
Miniature precision coax, stranded |
Small ( 115"), very high quality. Flexible |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Unbalanced |
8241F |
RG-59 sized standard video. |
Very flexible, fits standard RCA's. Many jacket colors available |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Unbalanced |
1505F |
Flexible RG-59 sized precision video. |
Flexible, for analog or digital applications. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Unbalanced |
1505A |
RG-59 sized precision video |
Fits some high quality RCA connectors. 10 colors |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Unbalanced |
1694A |
RG-6 sized precision video. |
Top-of-the-line. There are RCA's, but hard to find. 10 colors |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Unbalanced |
89259 |
All Teflon coax |
Highly recommended on Internet newsgroups |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Unbalanced |
7790A |
6 channel coax unbalanced snake, color coded inner jackets. |
5.1 channel unbalanced interconnect. |
New |
|
Analog Audio |
Balanced |
1800F |
Very flexible. |
Super-low capacitance (13 pF/ft) super-high performance |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Balanced |
9451 |
Install-only industry standard. |
Small (.135 O.D.) Cost effective. 10 colors |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Balanced |
1883A |
Install only, smaller size. |
Smaller, 10 colors. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Balanced |
8778 |
6 channel 22 AWG snake |
5.1 channel balanced interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Balanced |
88778 |
6 channel 22 AWG all-Teflon snake. |
5.1 channel balanced interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Balanced |
1218B |
6 channel 22 AWG low-cap individual-jacketed snake. |
5.1 channel balanced interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Audio |
Balanced |
1511C |
6 channel 24 AWG individual-jacketed snake. |
5.1 channel balanced interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Unbalanced |
1865A |
Miniature precision coax, stranded |
Very small (0.150") coax. |
Audio-Video |
| Digital Audio | Unbalanced | 1855A | Miniature precision video. | Very small (0.159") coax. mad BNC buy RCA's are available. | Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Unbalanced |
1505A |
RG-59 sized precision video |
#1 most popular video cable in the world. Fits many RCA, BNC, and other connectors. |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Unbalanced |
1694A |
RG-6 sized precision video. |
#1 cable for television station high-definition upgrades. BNC and some RCA's available |
Audio-Video |
| Digital Audio | Unbalanced | 7787A | Miniature precision coax (1855A above) 3-coax. | 5.1 channel interconnect, 2-channels per coax. | Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Unbalanced |
7790A |
6 channel coax, color-coded |
5.1 channel (discrete) interconnect |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Balanced |
1800F |
Very flexible |
110 |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Balanced |
1800A |
Install only |
110 |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Balanced |
9730 |
AES/EBU 3 channel snake (2 channel per pair mode), 100 ohms. |
5.1 channel interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Balanced |
89730 |
AES/EBU 3 channel snake (2-channel/pair mode), all Teflon, 100 ohms. |
5.1 channel interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Balanced |
9731 |
AES/EBU 6 channel snake, very low capacitance, 100 ohms. |
5.1 channel interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Digital Audio |
Balanced |
89731 |
AES/EBU 6 channel snake, very low capacitance, 100 ohms, all Teflon. |
5.1 channel interconnect. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Video |
Baseband |
1865A |
Miniature precision coax, stranded. |
Any precision digital video cable will work fine for analog., Bigger is better. Intended for BNC but RCA's readily available. |
Audio-Video |
| Analog Video | Baseband | 1855A | Miniature precision coax. Analog/Digital. | Any precision digital video cable will work fine for analog. Bigger is better. Intended for BNC but RCA's readily available. | Audio-Video |
|
Analog Video |
Baseband |
1505A |
RG-59 sized precision video. Analog/Digital. |
Any precision digital video cable will work fine for analog., Bigger is better. Intended for BNC but RCA's readily available. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Video |
Baseband |
1694A |
RG-6 sized precision video. Analog/Digital. |
RCA's do exist but made to fit BNC's |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Video |
Baseband |
8281 |
Top-of-the-line in analog. |
RCA's do exist but made to fit BNC's |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Video |
Broadband/ |
1505A |
RG-59 sized precision video |
Tested and guaranteed to 3 GHz. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Video |
Broadband/ |
1694A |
RG-6 sized precision video. |
Tested and guaranteed to 3 GHz. |
Audio-Video |
|
Analog Video |
Broadband/ |
1829A |
RG-6 Broadband |
Tested to 2.25 GHz specifically for HDTV/DBS. |
Broadband/ |
|
Broadband/Data |
Home Automation Composite |
7910A |
Series 6 (solid copper conductor) Duobond Plus (Bonded Tri-shield) + 80% Braid, swept to 2.25 GHz UTP certified to exceed TIA/EIA 568A 24 AWG solid bare copper, polyolefin insulation. |
Composite CATV/broadband with Category 5e data cable. Multipurpose home automation install cable. |
HomeChoice Brochure |
|
Broadband/Data |
Home Automation Composite |
7876A |
Series 6 (solid copper conductors) Duobond Plus (Bonded Tri-shield) + 80% Braid, swept to 2.25 GHz UTP certified to exceed TIA/EIA 568A 24 AWG solid bare copper, polyolefin insulation. |
Composite CATV/broadband with Category data cable. Multipurpose home automation install cable. Certified to Cat 5e. |
HomeChoice Brochure |
|
Broadband/Data |
Home Automation Composite |
7878A |
Series 6 (solid copper conductors) Duobond Plus (Bonded Tri-shield) + 80% Braid, swept to 2.25 GHz UTP certified to exceed TIA/EIA 568A 24 AWG solid bare copper, polyolefin insulation. FDDI-grade fiber 62.5/125/900 Micron tight buffered fiber. |
Composite CATV/broadband with Category data cable. Multipurpose home automation install cable. Certified to Cat 5e. |
HomeChoice Brochure |
|
Broadband/Data |
Home Automation Composite |
7913A |
Series 6 (solid copper conductors) Duobond IV Quad Shield swept to 2.25 GHz UTP verified to Category 5. 24 AWG solid bare copper, polyolefin insulation. |
Composite CATV/Broadband with Category data cable. Multipurpose home automation install cable. Certified to Cat 5. |
HomeChoice Brochure |
|
Broadband/Data |
Home Automation Composite |
7914A |
Series 6 (solid copper conductors) Duobond IV Quad Shield swept to 2.25 GHz UTP verified to Category 5. 24 AWG solid bare copper, polyolefin insulation. |
Composite CATV/Broadband with Category data cable. Multipurpose home automation install cable. Certified to Cat 5. |
HomeChoice Brochure |
|
Speaker Cable |
Zip |
9718 |
12 AWG |
Easier install. |
Audio-Video |
|
Speaker Cable |
Twisted/ |
8477 |
12 AWG |
More rugged |
Audio-Video |
|
Speaker Cable |
Teflon Flat cable |
8R28064 |
64 silver-coated copper 28 AWG conductors in FEP Teflon |
One of the winners in the RAHE Speaker Cable Design Project |
Flat cable or Master Catalog |
| Speaker Cable | Large Gage | 5T00UP | 10 AWG high-strand count twisted pair. | High power amps, sub-woofers. | |
|
Speaker Cable |
Bi-amp |
1810A |
14 AWG X 4 |
Made for Neutrik Speakon |
Audio-Video |
|
Speaker Cable |
Tri-amp etc. |
1811A |
14 AWG X 8 |
Made for Neutrik Speakon. |
Audio-Video |
,
specifically for AES/EBU patch cord or mic cable.