Thread: Shunyata Omega USB

We replaced a Wireworld Platinum 6 USB Cable today with the Shunyata Omega USB. Sooooo much more organic, smooth and relaxed. Perfectly balanced top to bottom.

I would like to know the materials used (any silver?). This cable is set to be THE reference USB cable. Holy crap it’s good.


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Nice. But I'm curious how many people here use USB cables. I've never used them.

I have my Aurender connected to my dCS Rossini with two digital cables, XLR and USB, normally I use XLR and with DSD files (>64) I use the USB connection.

I don’t believe there is a whole lot of information about it the Omega USB out yet. I’m checking on the MSRP.

There is no doubt the Omega is a big step up over the Sigma, in every way. Now, the Alpha and Sigma are both used extensively throughout our store. In fact, they are the only USB cables we will use. No other comes close.

The Omega USB builds on the attributes of the Alpha and Sigma. It’s as close to perfection as I’ve ever heard from any USB cable.


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The Shunyata Omega Ethernet Cable (1.5 Meters) is $2,500 MSRP. I wouldn’t expect a USB cable of the same length to be much more.

Ken

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

That's my experience from competitive benchmarking listening evaluations, as well. I used to use AQ Diamond, but the Alpha level completely smokes it....it's not even close, as you say.

Can you shed some light on how "competitive benchmarking listening evaluations" are conducted?

Well I have both the Sigma Ethernet and Sigma USB cables. Which should I replace first for the biggest improvement?

Originally Posted by johnthomas

Well I have both the Sigma Ethernet and Sigma USB cables. Which should I replace first for the biggest improvement?

USB


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I added in the Sigma USB cable and was really impressed. I can't imagine what the Omega does.

Originally Posted by brodricj

Nice. But I'm curious how many people here use USB cables. I've never used them.

I’ve been working for years to get the USB cable out of my system because I honestly thought they didn’t sound very good. USB was never designed to be a high fidelity digital audio connection.

When I finally succeeded with the MSB Select DAC and Renderer V2 Digital Input Module (their top Digital Input Module at that time), MSB goes and designs the revolutionary new Pro USB Digital Input Module with Pro ISL optical connection to remove all electrical noise off the line.

This brings me back to square one again with USB. If I go full circle and purchase the Pro USB/Pro ISL, hopefully the Omega USB cable will not be the bottleneck in the sound that the Wireworld Platinum 7 USB Cable was in my last go around with the Esoteric Grandioso K1.

Ken

Out of curiosity, what gear requires a USB cable? I have a hard drive directly connected to my Lumin via a USB cable, but I suspect the Shunyata USB wouldn’t work for this.

Originally Posted by BlueFox

Out of curiosity, what gear requires a USB cable? I have a hard drive directly connected to my Lumin via a USB cable, but I suspect the Shunyata USB wouldn’t work for this.

It is not applicable to your setup, unless you change the X1 output to USB (instead of analog), and connect it to an external USB DAC (such as K-01XD which would also play SACD discs.)

Originally Posted by Lee Scoggins

I added in the Sigma USB cable and was really impressed. I can't imagine what the Omega does.

Me too...

Originally Posted by Alpinist

...When I finally succeeded with the MSB Select DAC and Renderer V2 Digital Input Module (their top Digital Input Module at that time), MSB goes and designs the revolutionary new Pro USB Digital Input Module with Pro ISL optical connection to remove all electrical noise off the line.

This brings me back to square one again with USB. If I go full circle and purchase the Pro USB/Pro ISL, hopefully the Omega USB cable will not be the bottleneck in the sound that the Wireworld Platinum 7 USB Cable was in my last go around with the Esoteric Grandioso K1.

my understanding of the MSB pro-ISL / pro-USB input is that it provides for both 100% electrical isolation AND data integrity where the USB signal is subjected to error detection and correction. so, this makes the pro-ISL / pro-USB interface functionally equivalent to optical fiber ethernet input.

in this case, i cannot see how the choice of USB cable connected to the input side of the pro-USB dongle matters in the least.

of course, the (subjective) proof of this would be blind A/B testing of a consumer grade USB cable and an audiophile USB cable.

more info on the MSB pro-ISL / pro-USB input at this link

as always, YMMV

Originally Posted by aKnyght

my understanding of the MSB pro-ISL / pro-USB input is that it provides for both 100% electrical isolation AND data integrity where the USB signal is subjected to error detection and correction. so, this makes the pro-ISL / pro-USB interface functionally equivalent to optical fiber ethernet input.

in this case, i cannot see how the choice of USB cable connected to the input side of the pro-USB dongle matters in the least.

of course, the (subjective) proof of this would be blind A/B testing of a consumer grade USB cable and an audiophile USB cable.

more info on the MSB pro-ISL / pro-USB input at this link

as always, YMMV

This is a very fair point. If the only difference between USB cables is the quantity and type of noise they let through, then you would be correct. However, I suspect there are other differences that impact the sound quality such as impedance or conductivity of the conductors of the USB cable.

Best,
Ken

Originally Posted by Alpinist

This is a very fair point. If the only difference between USB cables is the quantity and type of noise they let through, then you would be correct. However, I suspect there are other differences that impact the sound quality such as impedance of the USB cable.

an interesting consideration as well. my only question would then be: are any such differences which are electrical in nature material enough impact the error-corrected digital signal being converted to light?

i suspect not, but can't say that know this for a fact. i suppose it is possible that these differences are large enough to actually alter the digital signal (0s and 1s) after the pro-USB dongle error checks/corrects the incoming signal but before it is converted to light.

fwiw: i don't get why MSB does not offer an ethernet renderer module that accepts an SFP input transceiver. in this case, users could then use either a copper or fiber SFP transceiver as desired -- one size fits all.

Originally Posted by MusicLover

Probably a question only His Mikeness can answer from experience: With the new Omegas on Shunyatas Website (USB, S/PDIF) which one is the one to go when planning to upgrade to a N20/N30 this year (currently N100H)? AES is not an Option with my DAC...
I remember our friend jdandy used an Sigma S/PDIF for his N10 (and a Sigma USB for the N100H). The specs from the N20 read as if the upgraded clocking are specific to the AES & S/PDIF. Then again you probably wouldn’t have gone for an Omega USB in the store if S/PDIF would be superior to the USB option I guess...

Yes, definitely USB. It’s less restrictive to formats too. A lot depends on the DAC as well. But today’s DAC’s are really optimized for USB.


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Originally Posted by Alpinist

I’ve been working for years to get the USB cable out of my system because I honestly thought they didn’t sound very good. USB was never designed to be a high fidelity digital audio connection.

When I finally succeeded with the MSB Select DAC and Renderer V2 Digital Input Module (their top Digital Input Module at that time), MSB goes and designs the revolutionary new Pro USB Digital Input Module with Pro ISL optical connection to remove all electrical noise off the line.

This brings me back to square one again with USB. If I go full circle and purchase the Pro USB/Pro ISL, hopefully the Omega USB cable will not be the bottleneck in the sound that the Wireworld Platinum 7 USB Cable was in my last go around with the Esoteric Grandioso K1.

Ken

I have also avoided the USB connection for the last couple of years thinking it was inferior to AES/XLR, but recently I tried an old Phasure Lush USB cable (not USB specification compliant) that I had laying around and it sounded great. Can only imagine this has to do with my DAC, the Rossini becomes the "master" clock when using USB. (when using the AES connection, the Aurender uses a better clock, which it is not used with the USB output.)

So in the end a lot of variables, but through USB the sound is more detailed and open, with AES the sound is a bit smoother, music flows better. It is a nice option to have.

Not happy with you guys .. making me want to upgrade my WW Starlight 7 USB to the Omega USB. Tax refund season is coming soon ...

George