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Thread: AQ Diamond USB
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May 1, 2018, 02:01 PM #1
AQ Diamond USB
I've long been in the camp that *audio* cables make a difference. Yet skeptical about USB and Ethernet.
Like many of us though I couldn't resist. And to some degree I'm also in the camp "everything has potential to make a difference / system synergy counts". So now I manage to have collected a few "high end" USB cables.
Latest acquisition: AQ Diamond USB. Never been an AQ fan, having tried several of their top or close-to cables in other places of my system (digital, ICs, speaker) and quickly replaced them.
Have to say though, I hear a surprisingly noticeable improvement with the Diamond USB. Maybe it's my imagination. I don't have the patience to blind test and I'd just as soon be blissful in my ignorance/placebo effect anyway.
AQ Diamond impressions: everything sounds more relaxed and natural and less fatiguing. Soundstage seems to have gotten a bit deeper front to back. I'm hesitant to pull out these overused tropes but honestly for the first time in a while they seem to apply.Main System
Lumin X1 > Boulder 1161 > Scansonic MB3.5 B
Headphones
Home: HiFiMan Susvara > Schiit Lyr+
Portable: Focal Radiance > AQ Dragonfly Cobalt / Chord Hugo 2
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May 26, 2018, 01:26 PM #2
Re: AQ Diamond USB
Nice to read this. I am trying out the Coffees USB. A friend loaned them to me. He wants the Diamonds, but he is trying to find a deal, used or demos.
McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105
“One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
"You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
― Neil deGrasse Tyson
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May 26, 2018, 09:14 PM #3
Re: AQ Diamond USB
Preamp/Digital: Meitner MA3
HT Processor: Bryston SP3
Amps: Bryston 14b3, Bryston 4b3
Speakers: Kef Reference 5, Kef Reference 4c
Sub: REL Carbon Special
Power: Shunyata Denali, Bryston BIT15
Wires: Wireworld Silver Eclipse XLR & SC, Ethernet - WW Platinum USB
Other: Stillpoint Ultra SS, ISO-Acoustics ISO Pucks
-Kyle
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June 28, 2018, 05:59 PM #4
Re: AQ Diamond USB
My friend did purchase the Diamonds and he says he likes them a lot. I am happy with the Coffee. Vastly better than the medium to lower level Wireworld that I was using.
McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105
“One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
"You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
― Neil deGrasse Tyson
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August 12, 2018, 07:39 PM #5
- Join Date
- Mar 2017
- Location
- Berlin, CT
- Posts
- 259
Re: AQ Diamond USB
I enjoy using the Diamond. I also like the WW digital cables. To me they are making the best ones right now IMHO. It will be interesting to see what the next round of digital cables from AQ will bring us. I do feel that the Light Harmonic cable is better, but ti's a ton more and not that much better. I do like the AQ stuff.
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August 13, 2018, 06:29 PM #6
Re: AQ Diamond USB
I have used Diamond USB since 2014 and I'm sticking to it! That says it all!
Triangle Magellan Concerto 2 < AQ Everest < Vitus Audio SS-010 Mk2 < AQ Dragon HC < AQ WEL Signature XLR < Chord Qutest w UpTone JS-2 & AQ Dragon Source < SOtM tX-USBultra w 75Ohm Master Clock Input, Paul Hynes SR5-12 Turbo XL & AQ Dragon Source < AQ Diamond USB < Aurender N-100H w AQ Dragon Source < Gryphon PowerZone w AQ NRG-Wild < Solid Tech Hybrid < Ansuz Darkz D-TC, Darkz D2, Stillpoints Ultra SS, Omicron Harmonic Stabilizer & Gold SE < Furutech FT-SWS < Synergistic Research Blue Quantum Fuse
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May 19, 2019, 03:28 PM #7
Re: AQ Diamond USB
Hi
Just received the AQ Carbon.
I agree with the OP jmusica
"AQ Diamond impressions: everything sounds more relaxed and natural and less fatiguing. Soundstage seems to have gotten a bit deeper front to back".
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May 19, 2019, 03:34 PM #8
- Join Date
- Mar 2017
- Location
- Berlin, CT
- Posts
- 259
Re: AQ Diamond USB
I do love the Diamond. I have had some of the much more exotics in and they sound different, but not necessarily better. I"m very excited about the future of AQ as the cables and cords that Garth has produced are superior to anything I've had in my system so far and that include the top Echole power cord that a friend brought over. For ethernet my favorite is still the newest top WW Platinum I believe it is called. I also use a special hospital filter that I find cleans up things greatly.
Funny thing is that I get my server/dac back in the next week or two. Since the DAC is hard wired, I may be selling the USB cable, lol. The only input may be the optical from the TV feed. Digital is crazy as it sounds different in every house due to the electrical noise on your line. I think this is when you have wild views on cables.System:
Vandersteen Quatro CT
Ayre AX5/20
The Memory Player with built in DAC and headphone amp built in on order
AQ Niagara 1000 power device
Audioquest William Tell bi wire speaker cable
Wireworld 8 optical cable into the Empirical Audio Synchro Mesh from the TV and Blueray to reclock
Wireworld Platnium 8 ethernet cables into the EMO 70e ethernet filter into The Memory Player from Eero mesh router
All routers, cable box and synchro mesh powered by the Wyred4sound LPS box with separate supplies for each
Audioquest power outlets and four dedicated power lines in the room
ZMF Ori headphones with the Audioarts 15' Pono balanced cable for the QX5/20
Empire Ears Phantom CIEM's
Rhapsodio 2.98 mk2 gold plated silver cable for Phantom
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May 19, 2019, 04:17 PM #9
Re: AQ Diamond USB
USB cable upgrades have made a profound difference in the SQ of my system. Far more impactful than analog interconnects.
Tom
Audio:
Amati Futura Mains
Amati Homage VOX Center,
Proac Response 1sc Rears,
Three MC2301's for L,C,R
MC 602 for the rears
C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 77
Nottingham Dais with Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation
SurfacePro 3, JRiver, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC
Video:
MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material.
Lake House:
Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 80, Rega P3
OnDeck:
McIntosh MAC 4300v
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August 15, 2019, 04:27 PM #10
Re: AQ Diamond USB
Dumb Question: Does a AQ Daimond USB cable need to play in ?
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August 15, 2019, 05:30 PM #11
Re: AQ Diamond USB
My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481
"We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."
Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.
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August 16, 2019, 04:53 PM #12
Re: AQ Diamond USB
Thanks, I thought I was imagining it !
Very Impressed.
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August 17, 2019, 12:42 PM #13
- Join Date
- Mar 2017
- Location
- Berlin, CT
- Posts
- 259
Re: AQ Diamond USB
Mine kept getting a bit better all the way up to 250 (yes I journal like an idiot, lol). It was very very subtle, but even the wife heard it as it was mostly in the soundstage. My system throws a realistic and large (when recorded) stage, so YMMV.
System:
Vandersteen Quatro CT
Ayre AX5/20
The Memory Player with built in DAC and headphone amp built in on order
AQ Niagara 1000 power device
Audioquest William Tell bi wire speaker cable
Wireworld 8 optical cable into the Empirical Audio Synchro Mesh from the TV and Blueray to reclock
Wireworld Platnium 8 ethernet cables into the EMO 70e ethernet filter into The Memory Player from Eero mesh router
All routers, cable box and synchro mesh powered by the Wyred4sound LPS box with separate supplies for each
Audioquest power outlets and four dedicated power lines in the room
ZMF Ori headphones with the Audioarts 15' Pono balanced cable for the QX5/20
Empire Ears Phantom CIEM's
Rhapsodio 2.98 mk2 gold plated silver cable for Phantom
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September 23, 2019, 06:06 PM #14
Re: AQ Diamond USB
The more I try the more I think that everything needs break in. As an example, my new custom computer, Music Server I have noticed the initial brightness and very slightly harsh. Sound stage seemed a tad cramped... but with more playing it is opening up. Smoothing out and sound stage is definitely moving into the realm of amazing... I have no answers as to why a computer, playing file through Roon and well broken in AQ Coffee USB cables would need time to sound its best, but it definitely does ....
McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105
“One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
"You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
― Neil deGrasse Tyson
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September 24, 2019, 02:42 PM #15
Re: AQ Diamond USB
I have AQ Diamond USB & Ethernet. Though I've not heard all of the cable brands out there, they are the best in their categories in my experience.
DPT4ME - Dynamics, Presence & Tone for Musical Engagement; MBP (3) - stripped down for music only; Shunyata Omega & Sigma USBs; ISO REGEN w/short Curious USB links; Berkeley Alpha USB; Aqua La Scala II Optologic DAC; Schiit Yggdrasil - fully updated; Ayre Codex dac - updated; Pass Labs INT-60 integrated amp; Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE-2 preamp, Quicksilver Mono 120 amps w/Tung-Sol KT150s; Quicksilver Mid Mono amps w/Gold Lion KT77s; Fyne Audio 703s; Symposium Svelte Plus & Ultra Platforms; REL S-812 subwoofers; Duelund DCA12GA speaker cables; AV Room Service EVPs, Stein Music Harmonizers, Duelund DCA16GA & 20GA ICs; Shunyata Denali 6000S/V2; Tripp Lite PCs; Wyred 4 Sound power cords; AudioDharma cable cooker; dedicated custom room; various GIK & ASC room treatments; etc.
www.getbettersound.com
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AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
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Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team
AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.
We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!
Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com
Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team
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