(Click image to enlarge)

Now here’s a nice item:  A broadcast usage quality stereo balanced line cable manufactured by Belden, probably the most respected cable manufacturer in the world.  This is part of their “Brilliance” line of broadcast quality cables.  This particular type is in the form of what appears to be conventional “zip” cord, but with color coding, as you can see in the pictures.  What it actually is, is two “zipped” cables, each with full shielding and a drain (ground) wire around two separate twisted pair conductors, which make up the “hot” and “neutral” sides of the balanced line*.  This type of cable is normally intended for long runs and / or in noisy environments, in professional installations, which makes it almost overkill for most home stereo needs.  But if you can land some at a good price…  (See below.) 

Belden Specifications / Info.:

Belden Brilliance(R) Broadcast Cable #1504A

Dual twisted pair conductors inside overall Beldfoil(r) shield, 100% coverage.
  (2 pairs in “zip cord” configuration, 4 conductors total, plus shields.)

22 AWG stranded (19 x 34), tinned copper conductors.

Conductor Insulation Material: PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

Outer Shield Material Trade Name: Beldfoil

Outer Shield Material: Aluminum Foil-Polyester Tape (1)

24 AWG stranded, tinned copper drain wire.

Outer Jacket Material: PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

Plenum Usage: (Y/N): N

Applications: Audio, Control and Instrumentation Cable, Analog Audio Cables

Insulation Rating:  150v RMS, 60° C (very conservative).

Insulation Thickness: Conductors, 0.010″; Jacket, 0.020″

Overall Diameter:  0.143″ x 0.286″.

Capacitance between conductors:  57pF/ft.

Capacitance between one conductor and the other conductor connected to the shield:  100 pF/ft.

UL NEC / C(UL) CEC Type:  NEC = CM;  CEC = CM.

(1)  The foil shield is  bonded to the jacket insulation, so that when the jacket is stripped off, the foil is removed with it, leaving the insulated conductor pair and the drain wire exposed for easy access.
 

Price:

This wire’s list price is $414 for a 1000 ft. spool, and the cheapest we have found it online is  $331 if you buy 1000 ft. of it.   Our price is $.045/ft. for 1 ft. - 10 ft.;  $0.40/ft/ for 11 ft. - 50 ft.;  $0.35/ft. for 51 ft. - 100 ft.  Our order limit is 100 ft. per customer per order, however, if you want a greater qty., please contact us - we may be able to obtain more, at a competetive price to you.

We have Red + Green available, and a little Red + Gray (maybe 200 ft. of the latter, as of 3/23/09.)

For additional Ordering Information please click here.
 

*If you are unfamiliar with shielded balanced lines, they are commonly used where noise rejection is critical, such as in low noise professional audio microphone cables and in extended run “snakes”, which feed balanced inputs, such as in a high quality mixing board.  Balanced inputs have become more popular in car audio amplifiers, to help reduce noise.

Detail of shielding (click to enlarge)