How to wire speakers without binding posts?

[wixy]

I'm in the process of building some fullrange speakers, and am planning on using Cat5 cable to wire them.

This is a technical question, how would I run the Cat5 cable out of the speaker boxes? i.e., what is needed to ensure that there is no gap around the wire when it is exiting the boxes?

[Elkaid]

Do you mean some kind of grommets? Rubber or nylon perhaps ?

Grommets + Bushings

Regards,

[wixy]

Thanks. Not sure how I would install those, and would they really prevent all sound leakage?

[Ed LaFontaine]

Quick and dirty...

choose a drill bit a little smaller than 1/4"....ooops!...about 5 mm. Stick the cat5 through and caulk with silicone on the inside of the cabinet.

Now, if you are going to handle (move) the cabinets much you may want to consider strain relief where the cat5 goes through the case. In which case drill an appropriately larger hole. I didn't bother...you may want to.

[Colin]

Yep, silicone sealant works well. You might also want to seek out deployable CAT-5 which is much more flexible than the standard stuff (more like mic cable) and easier to work with.

However, any particular need to avoid the binding posts? (I did it on one set of enclosures because they were ceramic and I didn't rate the chances of the back panel holding together if it had two closely spaced holes.)

[Andersonix]

There is also putty or 'rope caulk,' which would be less permanent. I've used it many times. (Think chewing gum.)

[Cal Weldon]

If you wish to eliminate the sealant, rope caulk or grommets and the possibility of required maintenance, run brass or copper screws through the cabinets and solder to them on either side. I have done that on the inside divider panels where I have no way of accessing them after the cabinet is sealed if and when maintenance may be required. I use brass screws only because copper are more expensive and IMO unecessary.