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Two-Conductor Shielded Cable

I need to run some line-level audio cables in a broadcast studio. In the old days, I used Belden 8450 and 8451. What are you using now? It's been a long time since I purchased any two-conductor shielded cable.
 
Ditto for the Gepco. Last two studios I did, I used that. Great for going from sources to the punch block in the studio.

Also use 8451 for runs with big bundles.

Have used cat5e for the places with StudioHub. As long as I'm not at a transmitter site, like a co-located AM, I haven't noticed any difference with balanced sources on unshielded cat5e. Works great for AES too.
 
Lots of good cable out there. Nasty little thing, though, is that not all are "Plenum Rated". That can spell problems if you're running cables through places like above suspended ceilings. Not electrical problems; fire inspection problems.
 
Good point.

"Plenum Rated" is usually Teflon jacketed so that it won't burn and release toxic smoke. Plenum rated wire costs more than standard wire. If you are running cables in a plenum, such as are common in office buildings above the drop ceilings, you must use "Plenum Rated" wire in those. You can also, in some jurisdictions, run standard wire through plenums in metal conduits, but this tends to be more expensive. Not all suspended ceilings are plenums, so check yours out if you have to run cables through it.

Standard vinyl jackets are okay almost everywhere else.
 
Belden 9451 for everything around here. Almost identical to the 8451, except slightly different foil sheild that strips easier in the 9451. In a major rewiring project those seconds can add up and it's a lot less frustrating. In a pinch,for relatively short distances, the specs overlap those of some AES rated digital cables. In practice I've found them interchangeable over most distances I've used them. I no longer buy the AES rated stuff. 22 Gauge conductors are plenty for most everything. DC resistance at 100 feet is only 1.6 ohms so use it for speakers as well. Not Plenum rated.
 
I've used Belden 9451 in the past, and it really does strip a lot easier than 8451.

By the way, the Belden cable I've been trying to remember is 8441. It's big, but it's easy to work with. As I recall, I may have used some West Penn Wire 291 in the past.

Thanks for the input!
 
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