4-Way Audio over Cat Female XLR Breakout Cable – Neutrik & Van Damme

Four audio channels. No box required.

Sometimes the box is useful. Sometimes it is just another thing to find space for.

This breakout was made for systems that need four XLR channels over one Cat cable without a separate satellite box at the end. Four Neutrik female XLRs connect directly to a locking Neutrik etherCON using Van Damme four-pair Digi Tour multicore, giving you a compact connection that is easier to store and quicker to drop into a setup.

Use it at the source end of the run with a corresponding male breakout, DAC.34 satellite box or compatible Audio over Cat patchbay at the other end.

What Audio over Cat actually means

This is a passive wiring system. It does not turn the signal into Ethernet data and there are no converters or electronics inside it. A Cat cable contains four twisted pairs, so this system uses each pair to carry one balanced audio channel.

That gives you four independent mic, line or AES3 channels through one fully screened Cat cable. It can also carry 48V phantom power, provided the complete Cat run uses screened cable and screened RJ45 or etherCON connectors.

Do not connect this product to an Ethernet switch, router, computer or Dante network.

Performance & Build Quality

Van Damme Digi Tour is a proper 110Ω four-pair multicore rather than ordinary network cable dressed up as a loom. Each pair is individually screened, helping keep the four channels separated while providing the flexibility needed for a practical flying breakout.

We build each assembly in our UK workshop using Neutrik NC3FXX-B female XLRs and a rugged NE8MX6-B-T etherCON. The channels are identified with blue, orange, green and brown boots, then individually tested for continuity, polarity and screen connection before dispatch.

Key Features

• Four balanced audio channels through one screened Cat cable
• Suitable for mic level, line level and AES3 digital audio
• Supports 48V phantom power with a fully screened Cat run
• Four Neutrik NC3FXX-B female XLRs
• Locking Neutrik NE8MX6-B-T etherCON connection
• Van Damme 110Ω four-pair Digi Tour multicore
• Blue, orange, green and brown channel identification
• Compact flying breakout with no separate box
• Compatible with the Designacable DAC.34 range

Why these connectors?

The Neutrik XX Series XLRs are robust, familiar and easy to work with in studio, broadcast and live systems. The locking metal etherCON protects the RJ45 connection and provides proper strain relief—much more sensible than leaving an exposed plastic network plug at the end of a breakout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect it to a network switch?

No. The connector may look like a network connection, but this product carries four passive audio circuits. It must only be connected to a compatible Audio over Cat breakout, box or patchbay.

Will it pass phantom power?

Yes, provided the entire Cat run is fully screened and fitted with screened RJ45 or etherCON connectors. The screen provides the common XLR pin 1 connection, so an unscreened Cat cable will not work correctly.

Can it carry analogue audio and AES3?

Yes. Each pair carries one balanced channel, making the system suitable for mic level, line level or AES3 digital audio.

Related Audio over Cat Products

View the Designacable Audio over Cat range – choose a satellite box or panel version when a fixed connection makes more sense than a flying breakout.