Technical Papers

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, specifically for AES/EBU patch cord or mic cable.

Audio-Video

Digital Audio

Balanced

1800A

Install only

110, specifically for AES/EBU.

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/
CATV/HDTV

1505A

RG-59 sized precision video

Tested and guaranteed to 3 GHz.

Audio-Video

Analog Video

Broadband/
CATV/HDTV

1694A

RG-6 sized precision video.

Tested and guaranteed to 3 GHz.

Audio-Video

Analog Video

Broadband/
CATV/HDTV

1829A

RG-6 Broadband
BROADBAND ONLY.

Tested to 2.25 GHz specifically for HDTV/DBS.

Broadband/
CATV

Broadband/Data

Home Automation
1 x 1
Composite

7910A

One Series 6 coaxial cable Duobond Plus + One Cat 5e 4 pair bonded UTP cable.

Composite CATV/broadband with Category 5e data cable.  Multi-purpose home automation install cable.  Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data

Home Automation
1 x 1
Composite

7911A

One Series 6 coaxial cable Duobond Plus + One Cat 5e 4 pair bonded UTP cable (Siamese).

Composite CATV/broadband with Category 5e data cable.  Multi-purpose home automation install cable.Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data

Home Automation
1 x 1
Composite

7912A

 One Series 6 coaxial cable Duobond IV Quad shield + One Cat 5 4 pair UTP cable (Siamese).

Composite CATV/broadband with Category 5 data cable.  Multi-purpose home automation install cable.  Verified to Cat 5.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data

Home Automation
2 x 2
Composite

7876A

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond Plus + Two Cat 5e 4 pair bonded UTP cables.

Composite CATV/broadband with Category 5e data cable.  Multi-purpose home automation install cable.  Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data

Home Automation
2 x 2
Banana Peel®

7876S

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond Plus + Two Cat 5e 4 pair bonded UTP cables.

Composite CATV/broadband with Category 5e data cable.  Multi-purpose home automation install cable.  Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data/Fiber

Home Automation
2 x 2 x 2
Composite

7878A

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond Plus + Two Cat 5e 4 pair bonded UTP cables + One 2-fiber LANLite Distribution cable.

Composite CATV/broadband with Category data cable.  Multi-purpose home automation install cable.  Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data/Fiber

Home Automation
2 x 2 x 2
Banana Peel®

7878S

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond Plus + Two Cat 5e 4 pair bonded UTP cables + One 2-fiber LANLite Distribution cable.

Composite CATV/broadband with Category data cable.  Multi-purpose home automation install cable.  Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data

Home Automation
2 x 2
Composite

7913A

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond IV Quad shield + Two Cat 5 4 pair UTP cable.

Composite CATV/Broadband with Category data cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. Certified to Cat 5.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data

Home Automation
2 x 2
Banana Peel®

7913S

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond IV Quad shield + Two Cat 5e 4 pair UTP cables.

Composite CATV/Broadband with Category data cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data/Fiber

Home Automation
2 x 2 x 2

7914A

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond IV Quad shield + Two Cat 5 4 pair UTP cable + One 2-fiber LANLite Distribution cable.

Composite CATV/Broadband with Category data cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. Verified to Cat 5.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Broadband/Data/Fiber

Home Automation 
2 x 2 x 2
Banana Peel®

7914S

 Two Series 6 coaxial cables Duobond IV Quad shield + Two Cat 5e 4 pair UTP cables + One 2-fiber LANLite Distribution cable.

Composite CATV/Broadband with Category data cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. Verified to Cat 5e.

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Keypad/Audio & Video

Home Automation Composite
1 Cat 5e +
4C x 16 AWG

7949A

 One Cat 5e 4 pair bonded UTP cable + Four 16 AWG conductors.

Composite 
Keypad Audio & Video Cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. 

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Keypad/Audio & Video

Home Automation Composite
1 Cat 5 +
4C x 16 AWG

7950A

 One Cat 5 4 pair UTP cable + Four 16 AWG conductors.

Composite 
Keypad Audio & Video Cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. 

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Keypad/Audio & Video

Home Automation Composite
1 Cat 5 +
4C x 18 AWG

7951A

 One Cat 5 4 pair UTP cable + Four 18 AWG conductors.

Composite 
Keypad Audio & Video Cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. 

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Keypad/Audio & Video

Home Automation Composite
1 Cat 5 +
4C x 14 AWG

7952A

 One Cat 5 4 pair UTP cable + Four 14 AWG conductors.

Composite 
Keypad Audio & Video Cable. Multi-purpose home automation install cable. 

HomeChoice Brochure or Master Catalog

Speaker Cable

Zip

9718

12 AWG

Easier install.

Audio-Video

Speaker Cable

Twisted/
jacketed

8477

12 AWG

More rugged

Audio-Video

Speaker Cable

Teflon Flat cable

8R28064

64 silver-coated copper 28 AWG conductors in FEP Teflon

 

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

Some Notes:

DBS means Direct Broadcast Satellite
HDTV means "high-definition television"
O.D. means "outer diameter".
AWG means American Wire Gage, the size of the wire.
RG-59 sized cable is generally .235" O.D.
RG-6 sized cable is generally .275" O.D.

A WORD ABOUT PUT-UPS

Put-ups are the sizes of reels available for a cable. Part of the problem with Belden and home installations is that many of our cables are only available in 500 or 1000-ft put-ups. If you only need 50 ft. or 100 ft, this can be a problem. Therefore, below is a list of which Belden distributors will cut cable to length. You might pay more, but not as much as if you wasted most of a put-up.

If you find another Belden distributor who cuts to length, or if any of those below do not cut to length or don't carry the cables listed above, please indicate this on the comment page of our web page, and we will modify the list below. The list below is in alphabetical order by distributor.

Distributor Phone
Accu-Tech Federal 800-490-4580 ext 127
443-883-4405
Fax: 410-694-9737
www.accu-tech.com
Anixter 800-264-9837
www.anixter.com
sales@anixter.com
Industrial Electric Wire & Cable 800-989-9502 (Western Region)
800-474-9984 (South Central)
800-344-2323 (North Central)
800-321-5601 (North Eastern)
877-643-5281 (So. California)
800-692-2323 (South Eastern)
877-809-4412 (New England)
www.iewc.com
wsales@iewc.com
Interstate Wire Co., Inc. 800-527-0010
www.interstatewire.com
sales@interstatewire.com
Joseph Electronics 1-800-323-5925
847-588-3800
Fax: 1-800-446-8366
Fax: 847-588-3300
www.josephelectronics.com
Nemal Electronics Intl. Inc. 1-800-522-2253
Fax: 305-895-8178
www.nemal.com
info@nemal.com
Pacific Radio 323-969-2035
800-303-0969 (within CA)
800-634-9476 (outside CA)
www.pacrad.com
info@pacrad.com
Radio, Inc. Tulsa, OK
 918-587-9123
800-364-9123
Fax: 918-587-6931
sales@radioinc.net
Fort Worth, TX
 918-587-9123
817-429-1995
sales@radioinc.net
Garland, TX
 918-587-9123
sales@radioinc.net