Seeking a pleasant "vibe" in your Ethernet cable.
Seeking a pleasant "vibe" in your Ethernet cable.
When handling premium cables, you’ll notice a distinct difference in their handling. They’re extremely supple with no tendency to remember bends. You can place them flat on the ground without any distortion. Professional XLR and microphone cables exemplify this behavior. At the other end, many long network cables struggle with flexibility; even careful winding doesn’t prevent issues later. I’m searching for a 150 ft CAT6a cable that behaves this way. I need it to be easy to set up quickly for temporary use and store afterward without hassle. I suspect AV manufacturers produce such cables, but I prefer standard RJ45 connectors rather than EtherCon, and I want CAT6a, though most available options are 5e or 6, not the higher grade 6a.
My idea suggests that the rigidity or memory in Ethernet cables comes from the outer coating. With modern standards such as CAT6 and 6E, the internal design and individual wires become important because they have built-in supports to separate pairs and some use solid-core wire instead of stranded ones. Based on my observations, most Ethernet cables feature PVC or jackets close to PVC, which tend to be stiff regardless of adjustments. I don’t have direct experience with premium XLR cables, but I suspect they might use a more flexible outer layer—perhaps rubbery or silicone-based (or braided). I can’t confirm the flexibility of these options, as they’re not mass-produced, so you’d need to install your own connectors. Infinite Cables offers Hi-Flex L-COM products, but the teal color isn’t mentioned here.
You're correct. The inexpensive CAT6+ cables often have poor sheathing, except for the flat ones which tend to tangle more when coiled. Some of the top options I've found were Belkin-branded cables that ended up in a discount store. I regret not purchasing their full range of longer cables back then, since they were priced equally regardless of length.