Mark,
I sell CAT5E, still have plenty, for $3 per metre. However, I restrict it to 5m max, as it's tough to get hold of (the States), and I use it in twisted pairs for input signal wiring.
I do not recommend using CAT5E for braided speaker cables. Time and again I watch amplifiers go unstable on CROs with this stuff - it's highly capacitive - and if you want good speaker cables go for the Ubyte Jon Risch design (do a google...), which is both low capacitance and low inductance. The speaker cable is a part of the output stage, and as it is external and unshielded, it is also prone to RF pickup, and this can be disastrous as it fosters cross conduction of the output devices. This quickly leads to very high currents across the rails and subsequent escape of high pressure smoke, which as we know must be kept in the devices for them to work.
Mal, I make no criticism of your preferences, but I do say that the engineering makes many amps, including the AKSA, unstable with more than about 5nF of capacitance cable. In fact, I have an idea that the sound people like with braided cables is to do with the slight overshoot on musical waveforms conferred by a slightly capacitive load. This ain't bad of itself, but it does take the amp right to the edge, and that's not a real comfortable place for it to be.
Hope this is helpful.
Cheers,
Hugh
