While the coax versus SpeakerLink debate rages (or not: where are you Tonepub?), I tired of waiting.

My system was set up(not by me)as follows:

808i.2 > 7200 master cat 6 UTP

7200 master > 7200 slave cat 5 UTP

We learnt from the data sheet Meridian sent out to Dealers last summer that cat cables should be shielded i.e. STP not UTP. We also know from statements made at Bristol last year, and since repeated, that some cat cables sound better than others.

I could only source cat 7 if I bought a whole reel. I found only two suppliers of cat 6a by Excel: 2 x 3 metres including delivery (not next day) came to �21.79. You will see that with cable this cheap I am not going to be emotionally committed to it. I chose cat 6a for the better plugs and shielding offered over cat 6.

The result is what I can only describe as a significant improvement. This involves all the usual categories of tight, tuneful and extended bass; clarity; tonal purity; greater image focus etc. All of this is highly subjective. To my ears it is probably the cheapest significant upgrade I have ever made. It certainly demonstrates the advantage of using industrial cat cabling for upgrades compared with exotic and pricey hi-fi coax stuff.

How this compares with the Meridian branded SpeakerLink cable is still an open question. But if they are using cat 5 STP the shielding is probably not as good as cat 6a. If I have made a poor purchasing decision at least it didn't break my bank.

And many thanks to those on this forum who have educated me about cat cable.


Last edited by Asa Post; 2009-01-22 12:07. Reason: extra point
Asa Post