The mechanical and electrical properties for network cables are quite different to the requirements for a tonearm. A certain stiffness is required for a network cable to maintain a constant characteristic impedance in the cable and maintain consistent propagation speed of different frequencies out to the several hundred megahertz bandwidth required for networks. The big problems against using this for tonearm cable are size and stiffness. Even the individual conductors are too big and stiff with their semi-rigid PVC insulation, let alone a cable once it is double screened and installed in an overall semi-rigid jacket.
Because to tonearm cable runs through a moving pivot on the tonearm it needs to be super-flexible with zero tendency to spring back if bent. The stylus tracking force on hifi turntables is usually ~2g and a small fraction of that imposed by a stiff cable being twisted will cause mistracking, even <0.1g with a high performance cartridge.
Below is a photo of 6 metres of 2-pair tonearm cable on a spool (middle), with 1 metre of 5.1mm ø Cat5E network cable around it for comparison.
I knew somebody who supplied 7/42 wire to a clock maker, maybe that size if wire, with a shield might work. ( 7 strands of 42 SWG).
The length needed is only about a meter, or less...
Enough effort for a $20 bit of wire...
The length needed is only about a meter, or less...
Enough effort for a $20 bit of wire...
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I realise that this thread has gone crispy by now but do you still have quantity of this wire and ,if so , could you point me in the direction of how to acquire some from you please?