Shunyata Omega USB

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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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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If the Omega Ethernet cable is anything to go by, I'm sure it's as amazing as you say.

With respect to materials used, e.g. silver, I'm sure that the materials used (e.g. for the conductors) play a role, but likely not the whole story. For example, there are other USB cables that utilize silver, but don't do what the Omega USB cable does. So, it's not as simple as using silver in a USB cable. My thought is that it is the entirety of the design: the materials, the individual conductor and overall cable geometries, construction methodology, connectors, and trick Shunyata proprietary technologies, e.g. dual TAP modules, CMode filter functionality, as well as other functionalities, e.g. capabilities that reduce or attenuate clock phase noise and detrimental noise factors e.g. high-source impedance leakage current, all play a role to allow this cable to deliver in the manner it does. This cable is designed as system of functionalities and quality attributes; its not any "one thing" that provides the performance it delivers.

You said it before, Mike, when referring to the all-Alpha v2 Shunyata loom, that 1+1+1=10, and I'm pretty sure a similar thing is going on here.

Cheers.
 
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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Mike said:
<SNIP> 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.
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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.
 
I can answer that. Even though I was mighty impressed with the Sigma v2 USB cable, the Omega is clearly better. I use the MSB Reference DAC with the Pro USB which utilizes a Pro ISL input. I also have the AES/EBU input with word clock connected, so I can go back and forth between inputs. I use the Sigma v2 AES/EBU digital cable for my other input.
When I first heard the Omega USB I was shocked that there would be that big of a difference comparing with the Sigma v2. I heard more detail and information appear, when I felt none was missing. There were more noticeable micro dynamics that were visceral at low volume levels. Also, I was mesmerized by each song I played so much, that I lost track as to what I was doing. If this is what the Omega line is about, I want more.
 
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
 
Puma Cat said:
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.
Click to expand...

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?
 
The Omega USB looks impressive.

Regarding Omega Ethernet I would only add that if you are using an Ethernet cable as an AES/EBU carrier then you might want to prioritize that one.
 
brodricj said:
Nice. But I'm curious how many people here use USB cables. I've never used them.
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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.
 
BlueFox said:
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.
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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.)
 
Alpinist said:
...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.
Click to expand...

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 :)
 
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