Stealth Audio Fights Noise in USB Cables

Michaels HiFi

Michaels HiFi

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Did you know some companies won't even put USB connections on their DAC's due to the issues with noise and such?

Others such as Waversa actually offer filter boxes for USB cables to help deal with those issue.

Stealth Audio Cables (who makes cables at a variety of price points) has a cable that not only reduces EMI in the line, it is literally the single most transformative piece (sound wise) I have put in my system.

I reviewed two versions of this cable and is the second review of the cable higher up in their line.

Here is the first review on the lower priced cable: Solving the Noise Issue - Stealth Audio for High End Audio Systems - YouTube

Here is the newest review of their top of the line cable: Stealth Audio Solves Common DAC Issue for Audiophiles! - YouTube
 
Hu Michael,

I watched your videos about Waversa LAN EXT 1 and Reference (and I suppose soon also Plus) and M12. So actually what’s your opinion, are you still using them?
I’m going to purchase the EXT 2 new model and I’d appreciate your comments.

My only doubt is that I already use in my system a Innuos PhoenixNET before my Statement, so I’d connect the EXT 2 on the router side not downstream. It implies a speed required of 100Mb/s, this is the reason why Network Acoustics did not suggest to me their Muon Pro filter for instance.
Waversa works at 100 Mb/s so it’s not a problem but I’m curious to know how 2 units together can perform (Waversa filter + Innuos switch) and, as always, I can know just using them in my system.

EXT 2 seems to perform, as per some early users, very close to EXT Reference.

Thanks
 
luca.pelliccioli said:
Hu Michael,

I watched your videos about Waversa LAN EXT 1 and Reference (and I suppose soon also Plus) and M12. So actually what’s your opinion, are you still using them?
I’m going to purchase the EXT 2 new model and I’d appreciate your comments.

My only doubt is that I already use in my system a Innuos PhoenixNET before my Statement, so I’d connect the EXT 2 on the router side not downstream. It implies a speed required of 100Mb/s, this is the reason why Network Acoustics did not suggest to me their Muon Pro filter for instance.
Waversa works at 100 Mb/s so it’s not a problem but I’m curious to know how 2 units together can perform (Waversa filter + Innuos switch) and, as always, I can know just using them in my system.

EXT 2 seems to perform, as per some early users, very close to EXT Reference.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hello Luca!

I still have the Waversa. For a filter box they are very, very good. However I am currently running just the tunable Stealth Ethernet out of the Telegartner Optical Bridge into the streamer, and the the Stealth Double Tune USB out of the streamer into my DAC. This produces the best sound - by far - that I have had to date.

Much of it is due to the Telgaretner Switch and then the Telegartner Optical Bridge. So think of the Optical Bridge as sort of a more expensive Waversa EXT.

There is a noticeable difference between the EXT 1 and the EXT reference. So if you're gong to stay with Waversa I would definitely upgrade to the EXT-2. For me currently the Stealth Audio cables with both the ethernet and the USB combined are by far the best sound I've had to date.

Hope that helps!
 
Thank youso much, Michael.

As for USB I’m settled: Muon2 cable into MSB DAC via USB Pro external module. So I’m focusing only on network. At the moment Sablon + Pink Faun cables are my preferred along the path router > Innuos switch > Statement sevrer/streamer but on my list I have also Shunyata Omega Ethernet cable. I’ll add also Stealth following your advice.

Thank you again, I look forward your videos to learn more from you in future.
 
luca.pelliccioli said:
Thank youso much, Michael.

As for USB I’m settled: Muon2 cable into MSB DAC via USB Pro external module. So I’m focusing only on network. At the moment Sablon + Pink Faun cables are my preferred along the path router > Innuos switch > Statement sevrer/streamer but on my list I have also Shunyata Omega Ethernet cable. I’ll add also Stealth following your advice.

Thank you again, I look forward your videos to learn more from you in future.
Click to expand...

Happy to help.

The Shunyata Omega is a good cable as I tried it in my system. But if you ever want better, in my system to my ears the Stealth is the superior cable. Again - in my opinion.

I felt the Shunyata while definitely having positive qualities just didn't have the organic and natural life-likeness that the Stealth tunable Ethernet has. There was an a lifelike electricity the stealth cables have while letting you near more of the music in a natural way (not in a hyper-detailed analytical way) that is unmatched.

But it's all about finding what you like and what sounds best in your system. After hearing all the cables I have over the last 40 years, in my opinion there is no need to listen to any other brand cable. I have never said that about any audio gear in 40 years but Stealth is on a different level than any other cable I've ever heard IMO.
 
luca.pelliccioli said:
Thanks, which Stealth Ethernet cable model do you suggest? I’m surfing the web to find out a European dealer….
Click to expand...

For any of their cables make sure you do their Tunable model. I think they sent me a new yet unreleased model to try. Email them and tell them you are interested in the one I did a review on, they will tell you how to and where to get that latest model.

Let me know if you need my help getting an answer from them and I can send an email to them for you.
 
Thanks, Michael.

Just sent an email to Stealth. In effect on their website I can’t find the Ethernet cable you are showing in your video, the same for USB one. Yours are red colored, on the website they are blue.
As for ethernet I noticed you can order different CAT types (6, 7 and so on), don’t know which one you are using.

If you can, or if you prefer PM me, I’d be curious to know the cost of both Ethernet and USB Stealth new models. Shunyata Omega was on top of my list but you are really tempting me now. If the cost is competitive.
The bad news is that here in Italy is almost impossible to have home audition of them.

I saw on your last video that you are testing the Puritan 156, that I recently bought. Can’t wait for your thoughts about it. I found it really useful feeding only one component, the DAC. While my other sources are fed by a PS Audio P20, that I love. I tried different combinations but the DAC only outperforms the others.

Congrats for your videos, didn’t know them before and during last two days I think to have watched all pf them. Really enjoyable, passionate and pleasant to follow. Well done, go on.
 
luca.pelliccioli said:
Thanks, Michael.

Just sent an email to Stealth. In effect on their website I can’t find the Ethernet cable you are showing in your video, the same for USB one. Yours are red colored, on the website they are blue.
As for ethernet I noticed you can order different CAT types (6, 7 and so on), don’t know which one you are using.

If you can, or if you prefer PM me, I’d be curious to know the cost of both Ethernet and USB Stealth new models. Shunyata Omega was on top of my list but you are really tempting me now. If the cost is competitive.
The bad news is that here in Italy is almost impossible to have home audition of them.

I saw on your last video that you are testing the Puritan 156, that I recently bought. Can’t wait for your thoughts about it. I found it really useful feeding only one component, the DAC. While my other sources are fed by a PS Audio P20, that I love. I tried different combinations but the DAC only outperforms the others.

Congrats for your videos, didn’t know them before and during last two days I think to have watched all pf them. Really enjoyable, passionate and pleasant to follow. Well done, go on.
Click to expand...

Hey Luca - I did two videos on two different USB cables from them.

The first is on the USB T Select (review here: Fix This Common Issue in Your Audio System - YouTube) and the higher level USB Double Tune Cable (Review here: Most Common Issue in Hi-Fi Audio Ruining Your Sound! - YouTube)

Here is the review on the Ethernet cable which is a new tunable version of the Black Magic (review here: You've Been Using The Wrong Audiophile Gear - YouTube)

All are yet unreleased, though I believe if you ask the factory directly for them they can get one for you. In the order I added them to my system: Ethernet, then USB T Select then USB Double Tune USB.

The Puritan 156 is very good indeed, and I'm selling my AudioQuest 1200 to make room for the Puritan and should have a review on that soon.

PM me if you don't get a response in a couple of days and I will message them for you. They are a small company and so along with making their cables all in house, they get very busy.

I'm also about to post a new video on the Stealth Dream 20-20 power cable in the next several days. So stay tuned!
 
I did not get either of the USB modules for my new DAC (MSB Premier), opting for the network Renderer v2, as I predominantly use Roon as my playback solution.

I did recently get an USB->Toslink converter to allow my computer to output directly to the DAC, but don't currently have a need for such.

I do currently use a NUC with ROCK, which is located elsewhere, as my Roon music server. If I had a bang on, super, PC as a music server (ala Taiko Extreme), then I would look into the better USB input modules available for my DAC.
 
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