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Anybody had experienced big differences with different USB cables? How differently can they sound? How big are the improvements in sound quality using better USB cables?
I've heard that Wireworld Ultraviolet or Wireworld Startlight USB cables are very good value. But some people recommend more expensive Wywires, Locus Design, Ridge Audio or Revelation Audio USB cables. Are they worth it or is it better to stay with something like Wireworld or maybe just with the stock USB cable?
Please share your experiences if you've tested other than stock USB cables.
Thank you!
Follow Ups:
My own experience suggests USB cables do make a very nice difference, but not so much difference that you should spend a lot on a cable instead of upgrading your DAC.
In my main system, I went from an Esoteric transport and a Stellavox ST-2 DAC connected via S/PDIF, to a PowerBook G4 linked by FireWire to an Apogee Mini-DAC, and finally to a Mac Mini 2009 connected via USB, first to a Calyx Coffee, then to a Calyx 24/192 DAC.
In all these setups the quality of the interface cable made a very useful difference. Perhaps the S/PDIF link was the most cable-critical.
I ran the Calyx Coffee first with my best generic USB cable, then with an ACReyes Silver Signature 3. The second cable enlarged the soundstage in all directions, extended and added power to the bass, and reduced confusion in the highs--a serious improvement. But the final DAC upgrade made all those things things better by several more orders of magnitude.
Just a follow up. I have made many changes to my system and the Audioquest carbon was sounding dull to me. I put the audioquest Forest back in and it sound fantastic. It goes to show synergy is the key and you don't have to spend a ton of money. The Forest is a bargain at $35.
Thank you all for sharing. This is very helpful information for me.
I wonder if anybody tried USB cables from Wireworld. I will probably have a chance to audition them and I am wondering how they compare to other USB cable brands.
Yes! Compared stock USB cable to Wireworld Starlight, Cardas Clear and Kimber Silver. In order of preference, Wireworld, Cardas, Kimber,stock. I think Wireworld is really well ahead of the others as far as USB goes.
I used a generic USB Type A to Type B 3.0 meter cable for years to connect both my ASUS N61JV-X2 notebook PC and System76 Bonobo Professional laptops to my Resolution Audio Opus 21 music system. It produced signal losses that lead to audio drop outs whenever I played a loss less .FLAC or .WAV file. I recently upgraded to the Audioquest Cinnamon 1.5 meter USB Type A to Type B cable and it fixed all of my problems. I think it is due to the fact that it is a shorter cable. Now, I can listen to 24 bit 192 kHz .FLAC and .WAV files and the sound quality is exemplary. I placed an order for a Cardas Clear Serial Bus (USB) Type A to Type B 1.5 meter cable from Audio Connection in Verona, New Jersey. John Rutan is the owner and he is an authorized Audioquest and Cardas Audio dealer. I am looking forward to getting it by the end of next week. I also placed an order for a Cardas Neutral Reference Digital S/PDIF 0.5 meter RCA termination cable from Audio Connection. I have almost all Cardas Audio cabling in my high end audio system. Going from the generic USB to Audioquest Cinnamon USB cable was a big improvement and I can listen to my .FLAC and .WAV loss less audio files without signal losses or audio drop outs or skipping. I did audition the Audioquest Diamond 1.5 meter USB Type A to Type B cable and it was phenomenal. It revealed everything in the music and it allowed my 32 bit 384 kHz DXD .WAV loss less audio files to sound glorious. I wish that I could afford it. USB cables do sound different so I recommend that you find a local authorized dealer or an Internet merchant that will allow you to audition a bunch of USB cables and listen for yourself.
I ues the Ultraviolet cable, nice smooth presentation. More clear than stock, less harsh than Belkin gold.
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
Thanks, Dynobot.
Is the difference in sound quality distinct or subtle?
Is it something like differences between different (coaxial) digital cables?
To me it was about the same difference as switching from coax to toslink.
Break in time was minimal too.
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
By
I will.
All the best!
I have tried 5 different USB cables between a HP desktop computer and a Musical Fidelity V-Link. Four of them were "stock" type cables that would either came with a printer or hard drive or could be purchased cheap. These sounded fairly similar, the only difference being the 3' cable sounded a tiny bit clearer than than a 6' and 15' cable. I then purchased a Pangea usb cable for $30. I selected the Pangea because it claimed to be made of silver clad copper and most other such cables cost more, plus I could return it if I didn't like it. It sounded a little clearer than the stock cables. Fine details were more resolved. The biggest difference I noticed was a reduction in midrange glare and that acoustic instruments sounded more natural. I haven't had the time or inclination to try any other cables and probably won't until I finish ripping my music collection onto my computer.
my experiment was very simple. I bought two generic USB cables. Sent one to Jena Labs for cryogenics. Listened to both cables. The cryoed cable was much better.
At every step of the way I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the realization that cables and connections matter. I have been able to get computer audio very close to the performance of my reference CDP with a Wavelength Brick v3. An ARC cable $90 I bought on Audiogon made a significant improvement over a mid-priced Belkin. However, after hearing the HUGE difference between a basic toslink and a Wireworld optical cable, I decided to buy a Wireworld Starlight 2.0 cable. Undeniable and marked improvement.
0's and 1's. If the connections are correct, maybe the quality of the wire makes a difference, but not big money difference. All digital connections fall ino this category. Don't let the cable gurus sway you.
"Apparently, people now believe that mental telepathy is the foundation of communication and magic is the source of daily events. Consequently, we no longer have to participate in our own lives."
I am a designer of USB cables (at least 100 so far). They can, will and do make dramatic differences in the sound of your entire audio system. I strongly suggest that you listen to as many as you can (hopefully the makers have a grace period for return purposes.) Price does not always indicate better performance, but, I have found that the better/purer the metallrgy, the better the USB cable generally performs.
My fingers are a burnt mess from constantly working with the tiny solder pads within the Type A and Type B USB connectors. DO search to find the best sounding USB cable for you. The sonic benefits are well worth the efforts.
I am personally hoping to someday grow my own set of unique finger prints back.
Lance A.
Yes I have had some experience. I got Wyred DAC-2 (which I really like BTW). I don't remember the stock USB that came with it sounding good. I got the Kimber USB that sold for around $80 and thought it was a big improvement. But in the long run it started sounding Dull to me. Some systems might need that sound. Not good synergy for me. I tried a Belden gold and I liked the overal ballance but it was a bit noisy. I then tried the Audioquest Forest because it was only $35 locally. I thought it sounded better than anything else I had tried. I deceded to move up the AQ line and tried the Carbon ($180) since I had 30 days to return it to my local Magnolia. This USB is very good! I didn't know a DAC could sound this good. The only problem is I hear the difference between hi rez and CD's all the more. Hi rez can sound stellar. CD's can sound adequate at best. I was considering moving further up the AQ chain but the prices hit the stratusphere and Magnolia doesn't carry them so it's a special order.
There is a lot of stuff out there to try. You could spend a fortune. I don't think you can go wrong with the Audio Quest USB cables.
Belkin gold is a good USB cable one can use as a baseline, but what do you mean by "noisy"? Never had any kind of noise or noisy issue with that cable myself..
A little noisy or distorted. not sure how else to explain it.
Thank you Sir Anthony for describing your experiences. This is interesting what you say about different USB cables and how it evolved.
I will try to test some Audioquest USB cables if I have a chance.
Anyway other people tried any other USB cable brands?
I can comment from the very low end of the USB spectrum. I just use a single 10' USB cable to stream internet radio from my laptop to a NuForce DAC. A $7 MonoPrice USB looks and sounds fine to me for this application. In fact, the whole combination sounds shockingly good at times playing thru my living room 2.1 HT set-up. Probably wouldn't be my choice if I was putting together a dedicated computer based system, but who knows?
Your welcome. I wish more people would contribute on this subject also.
a
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