Talk to me about CAT 6 in wall cable

Not all are the same, some are 8 strands of 26 awg, others 24 awg, still others, harder to find, are 22 awg. Some are stranded, some are solid core.

they add up to different awg when combined, (i.e. speaker cables)

https://www.wirebarn.com/Combined-Wire-Gauge-Calculator_ep_42.html

some have separate insulation for each pair, and separately foil wrap the 8.

not a recommendation, just found it quickly to illustrate 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166916664863?_skw=cat+6+22+awg&itmmeta=01KWW6MJN4N45WC7ASSQTNW9MP&hash=item26dd022e1f:g:X2MAAOSwQY5mus4d&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDN6Obs1kTDO9WCBlmuuiMeoEV7ffVQukCvKLBcWWjeI6fp4e6HOKobJM5oDJzLEfoL23K0X%2FrDHq3OX2gnsFH7sPzOtz78ZTGZBKU6fjDykgiRFOYkc0BJMJWBA%2BA3%2FRkLzbagb9aBRhUvlATm4pvJHyMFfs36enWLjujXiWGfPEmUyqfqI%2FHk6pj%2BTt8PfkLTPipYBCNUOR9GhQGHhaVaaXo2u%2BYJPmDUa0L9zpKAGNV2ZtAbXl8O8238GpvtVzI%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9qq0obnZw

also, some come in a variety of colors, which can make it easier later to identify what's what. (or mark ends with different colors or numbers.

@audphile1   This is what i was wondering also. I have a mesh network already and it would be a lot easier not to run a long run to the router. However, I have been told that with a mesh network I risk drop outs and loss of signal! 

Cat 6 is fine and excessive.  I mean, you should probably do this for new installations, or 6a, but audio and even video streaming is so light on bandwidth that it’s all overkill these days. 

You should also check the lenghts involved.  I think Cat 6 only does 10G in short distances, so if you want 10G in the future (which would support hundreds of high resolution music streams at once) you want to get 6a.

It is so easy to buy a ’better’ cable for all the trouble of running it.

+1 @elliottbnewcombjr ;  cables with the same spec come in different wire gauge, insulation and connectors.

For a few bucks more I went with this Linkup 22g :

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087C9VZHT?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1

Note LinkUp makes 22 and 28g  cables...

My last house had Cat 5 run to every room except the bathrooms and we never had a problem, so you should be just fine with Cat 6.