ZPA0.5 Balanced Line Transmitter Cable

ShockTherapy · Post by **ShockTherapy** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:13 am

Hi everyone! I am slowly doing an install on my 99 Silverado. I have a MINT 0.5 and balanced line transmitter/driver. The problem I'm having is that I don't have the cable that goes between the amp and the transmitter. I heard somewhere that you can use a standard Cat5 ethernet cable... Even if it does work will the standard cat5 cable be good quality for my purpose? I'm waiting on some parts for my install in the mail so I have some time to think about things. let me know, thanks.

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:34 am

The connectors are RJ-45 (standard for Ethernet) and I believe you just need a straight through pinout judging from PG tech notes so any standard straight-through Ethernet cable should work.

However, if you're looking for the best possible signal protection, you could get CAT5e STP instead of the more available CAT5\5e UTP.

STP = shielded twisted pair
UTP = unshielded twisted pair

Will you notice a difference? I doubt it. The nature of balanced connections already reject noise anyways.

Post by **stipud** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:41 am

In a car you should definitely go with shielded. While balanced signals reject the noise on a line, it is not perfect, and with a shielded cable there will be less noise to offset.

This is the cheapest source I can find for a shielded 20ft run, and many colors to choose as well:
http://www.iofast.com/index.php/cPath/32_95_739

ShockTherapy · Post by **ShockTherapy** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:49 pm

stipud wrote:In a car you should definitely go with shielded. While balanced signals reject the noise on a line, it is not perfect, and with a shielded cable there will be less noise to offset.

This is the cheapest source I can find for a shielded 20ft run, and many colors to choose as well:
http://www.iofast.com/index.php/cPath/32_95_739

Thanks for the info! It really helped. I won't be needing a 20ft run since the transmitter is mounted 6" from the amp. I did however order the 1' model. Thanks again for everyone's help!

Post by **stipud** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:07 pm

ShockTherapy wrote:Thanks for the info! It really helped. I won't be needing a 20ft run since the transmitter is mounted 6" from the amp. I did however order the 1' model. Thanks again for everyone's help!

Whoah there! That totally defeats the purpose of having a balanced line!

The point is to do it as close to the headunit as humanly possible so that it rejects noise as the signal goes along the length of the vehicle. If you only install it directly before the amp, the noise has already occurred on the line and you aren't helping anything, since it just amplifies and balances the already noisy RCA.

marko · Post by **marko** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:34 pm

might as well just use rca's, there's no point like stipud says in mounting it 5" away..

ShockTherapy · Post by **ShockTherapy** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:35 am

stipud wrote:
ShockTherapy wrote:Thanks for the info! It really helped. I won't be needing a 20ft run since the transmitter is mounted 6" from the amp. I did however order the 1' model. Thanks again for everyone's help!
Whoah there! That totally defeats the purpose of having a balanced line!

The point is to do it as close to the headunit as humanly possible so that it rejects noise as the signal goes along the length of the vehicle. If you only install it directly before the amp, the noise has already occurred on the line and you aren't helping anything, since it just amplifies and balances the already noisy RCA.

CRAP! Ok... I'll buy a 20ft cable. I didn't even think about that. sucks though. I'm using really nice monster xln pro cables. thanks for the info... I'll get on it. Now if I can only find a single idq10v2D4 sub to match the one I have.

Post by **ttocs** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:41 am

with this as well as with the TLD it is good to use as short an rca as possible. I was lucky to have the depth to mount the TLD to the back of the heater vent directly behind the radio and use an 18" rca to connect it.

I have also had problems in the past if the TLD was mounted to a grounded surface that it could get noise issues, not sure if this is true with the transmitter/reciever but just in case, now ya know.....

ShockTherapy · Post by **ShockTherapy** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:44 am

marko wrote:might as well just use rca's, there's no point like stipud says in mounting it 5" away..

I'm just curious. If run the rca preouts of the headunit directly into the balanced transmitter then run a shielded twisted pair cat5e cable back to the amp will I really be benefiting all that much? I was thinking of leaving the transmitter next to the amp since I have VERY limited room up front for it. I would then be using the transmitter pretty much for the line driver purposes. As I said before, I have a set of Monster Cable XLN Pro RCA cables already ran from my previous amp I had installed. On the transmitter... Do I crank the input gain or set it like an amp gain? Do I adjust the gains on the amp and the transmitter til I get it where I want it? Also... This may sound strange but I'm going to run this at 2ohm at 500x1. I know it seems like a waste but I'm going to be running 2 IDQ10v2D4 subs at a 2ohm load. Tey are rated at 250w rms each so I'm thinking it should be a nice fit. I'm looking for SQ... Pure SQ.

ShockTherapy · Post by **ShockTherapy** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:46 am

ttocs wrote:with this as well as with the TLD it is good to use as short an rca as possible. I was lucky to have the depth to mount the TLD to the back of the heater vent directly behind the radio and use an 18" rca to connect it.

I have also had problems in the past if the TLD was mounted to a grounded surface that it could get noise issues, not sure if this is true with the transmitter/reciever but just in case, now ya know.....

I have it mounted to a carpeted panel.... should be ok. Thanks for the feedback.

marko · Post by **marko** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:29 am

a pair of IDQ10V2D4'S will give you 4ohms or 1 ohm mono.

it does seam pointless using the transmitter next to the amp, the only benefit is a line driver if your headunit is unable to drive the amp to full power (do you need full power?)

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:24 am

Well, the ZPAs do love high voltage on their inputs so the transmitter still would serve some, albeit much less purpose mounted in the back.

A shielded balanced line from the front to the back is the best possible way to lower your noise floor. If you want pure SQ, you want as little inducted noise as possible and running RCAs to the back when you have the option of balanced is technically sacrificing pure SQ.

I would use the transmitter as intended and mount it up front.

ShockTherapy · Post by **ShockTherapy** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:41 pm

fuzzysnuggleduck wrote:Well, the ZPAs do love high voltage on their inputs so the transmitter still would serve some, albeit much less purpose mounted in the back.

A shielded balanced line from the front to the back is the best possible way to lower your noise floor. If you want pure SQ, you want as little inducted noise as possible and running RCAs to the back when you have the option of balanced is technically sacrificing pure SQ.

I would use the transmitter as intended and mount it up front.

OK. I will order the cable today. I've spent quite a bit of money putting my system together. I guess I shouldn't be cutting corners. Thanks for the advice. I will post the finished result when I get it done.

ShockTherapy · Post by **ShockTherapy** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:32 pm

fuzzysnuggleduck wrote:Well, the ZPAs do love high voltage on their inputs so the transmitter still would serve some, albeit much less purpose mounted in the back.

A shielded balanced line from the front to the back is the best possible way to lower your noise floor. If you want pure SQ, you want as little inducted noise as possible and running RCAs to the back when you have the option of balanced is technically sacrificing pure SQ.

I would use the transmitter as intended and mount it up front.

Got the 20' Cat5e shielded cable. I am looking forward to replacing those bulky Monster Cable RCA cables with this skinny Cat5. Looking at the cable I'm hoping that it will actually work. I mean, It's not the OEM cable. I also hope that if it does function properly that this will carry my signal to the amp as well as the amp requires. I guess I'm just a noob when it comes to these amps. what do you guys think?

Post by **ttocs** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:45 pm

same difference.......