Please recommend a USB cable that won’t break the bank ...

joeinid

joeinid

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What are you using and have you made comparisons of different brands?

I hate to admit that cables do matter, but I’d like to keep it reasonable.
 
joeinid said:
...I hate to admit that cables do matter, but I’d like to keep it reasonable.
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+1 ... as a place to start and under the assumption that the manufacturer provided usb cable from T+A is perhaps not an "audiophile cable" but nonetheless is a quality cable, i am currently using the one provided with the dac 8 dsd. i am quite happy with the SQ of my digital front end and in no hurry to "upgrade" the usb cable. i have done no A/B comparisons.
 
Lots of people may consider things reasonable and others consider them not reasonable. I have 4 systems with USB cables (and a few spare cheaper ones). If $350 is reasonable, the Curious USB is good for the money.
 
joeinid said:
What are you using and have you made comparisons of different brands?

I hate to admit that cables do matter, but I’d like to keep it reasonable.
Click to expand...

Please give a price range.

I have a Phasure lush USB cable for sale (2m and good price just for you).

Rgds

Norman
 
I have the Curious USB, Audioquest Carbon, Wireworld Starlight 3.0, Belkin Gold Hi-Speed, whats in my system working is the Belkin. I could not hear any difference using the others.
 
Wire World Platinum and never look back! It will set you back about $600. Joe, usb cables are system dependent as are all cables. You may or may not hear a difference. It probably has to do with the usb implementation and power supply on your DAC.

We did a shoot out of cables in my system last year. We used a WW Platinum and Lightspeed both $600 cables, a WW Starlight Red 7 and a cheap Pangea cable. They sounded dramatically different. the WWP sounded the best with the Red coming in second. The LS next but it was way too bright sounding. However, it had the most detail and resolution. The Pangea sounded too bright, weak and thin without any depth.

The WWP was detailed, smooth, neutral and natural sounding. The WW Red however, sounded veiled in comparison and was warmer and darker.

Interestingly, when we used my Regen, it greatly closed the gap between the WWP and Red. The Red lost its veil and had more detail but still had just a hint of warmth and darkness. The LS still sounded bright but less so and there was no help for the Pangea although the sound did improve some.

Another interesting fact is that the guy that owns the WWP and LS prefers the LS in his system with a Hugo Chord and T+A DAC8. The LS does not sound bright in his system. Go figure.

My advice, rent different USB cables from the www.cableco.com and see what you like. You can take home up to 5 cables with a deposit.

Larry
 
Tried several, in my rig Dana cable was smooth yet detailed without glare.
Curious cable was a bit more organic sounding (think Harbeth).
 
I have a Curious and it works for me. Although USB is currently only used for Netflix streaming. Next USB cable might be an AQ Diamond - despite the $$$ - due to very positive experiences with their Ethernet cables.

In my system I prefer Ethernet for its sonic advantages.


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I have limited experience with USB but if I were looking and not wanting to spend a fortune it would be Analysis-Plus. Wire World would be on my list as well. Some reviews of WW say the sound is very good, detailed but seems to make the sound stage smaller. Whatever, that means, just could be lack of distortions. WW is typically more expensive than A+ in similar levels.

I went with Clarus due to being able to try first but really have a fondness for A+'s ability to improvement sound while keeping a very natural presentation.
 
Final touch Audio -Callisto is the best I ever heard. Cost is circa $800. Phasure lush is very good and not too expensive.

edit...300 was a typo.
 
I use two Audio Quest Coffee cables (I need two because I run the USB through a W4S Recovery). I do have a set of lower range Wireworld that I am current not using if you want something better than what manufactures provide that will not break the bank.
 
Mr Peabody said:
I have limited experience with USB but if I were looking and not wanting to spend a fortune it would be Analysis-Plus. Wire World would be on my list as well. Some reviews of WW say the sound is very good, detailed but seems to make the sound stage smaller. Whatever, that means, just could be lack of distortions. WW is typically more expensive than A+ in similar levels.
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Bryan, I can tell you that in my system and my friends that the WW cables do not present a smaller sound stage when compared to other cables. But cables are DAC dependent, so YMMV.
 
Sorry guys, been too busy to respond. I need to see what’s been said.
 
Kuoppis said:
I have a Curious and it works for me. Although USB is currently only used for Netflix streaming. Next USB cable might be an AQ Diamond - despite the $$$ - due to very positive experiences with their Ethernet cables.

In my system I prefer Ethernet for its sonic advantages.


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Joe. When I was helping MarkJones at the show. The president from Tenor audio came in the room and he wasn’t happy about the sound of digital and he pulled out the AQ Diamond USB. We connected it and bam I could hear the difference instantly.

Ofcoz later that day I purchased it and it’s been in my system for last 2 years. :).


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I agree with Paul, the AQ Diamond is superb, so is the Shunyata Sigma NR and Curious USB.


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