Totaldac D1 USB Cable

Rufus McDufus said:
I don't think I ran it non-stop but probably left it running overnight a few times. I came close to sending it back within the 10 day period I seem to recall as it seemed to sound quite bad after a few days or so, but it was just temporary. I've not read of anyone else who's heard the same so it could've been something else or my hearing.
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I don't know about this particular cable, but this phenomenon is common with my digital gear, server and cables alike: sounds good the first day, worse for a couple of days, before it goes to great, sometimes very slowly (takes weeks on Antipodes cables). I even had the opportunity to compare side by side when I got new gear in and compared it to the one that had been plugged for weeks or more, so I'm quite convinced it's real.

So much so that it is a significant constraint when doing demos and I'm worried about what I'll do in Munich and other shows...
 
Alpinist said:
I've had the Totaldac USB cable playing for 30 hours straight. The improvement in sound quality on my computer audio is significant. All edginess in the treble that I was experiencing with the WW Platinum 7 is gone. I would characterize the Totaldac's sound as smooth, warm, rich, organic and incredibly musical. The soundstage is significantly larger and images are more holographic than the WW. Bass is rounder than the WW but still very pleasing. The Totaldac is very transparent with just slightly less detail than the WW. Images on some material are more forward than the WW. Listening to the Totaldac reminds me of listening to vinyl in a terrific analog system. In my mind, it's a knockout. The Totaldac USB has transformed computer audio through my Mac Mini. It is my new USB cable.

Ken
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Totally concur with your assessment. The Total Dac USB is the best USB I have heard although to be fair have only compared it to a couple of different USB cables.
Cheers......
 
MRJAZZ said:
Totally concur with your assessment. The Total Dac USB is the best USB I have heard although to be fair have only compared it to a couple of different USB cables.
Cheers......
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The previous USB cables in my system have been:

Cardas Clear
Audioquest Diamond
Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7

I got some nice improvement in transparency as I moved up through these USB cables. However, there were some drawbacks with each one. The musicality was never quite there until now. Bravo Vincent Brient!

Ken
 
I am stunned by the musicality and soundstage of the Totaldac USB cable every time I listen to it. This is the first USB cable I've ever heard that does not deliver even a hint of "digital" sound. For those who are considering adding vinyl to their existing digital source, listen to this cable first. For those who feel the urgency to move from their Mac Mini or Macbook to an audiophile music server, listen to this cable first.

I'm not saying that I won't eventually purchase an audiophile music server but the urgency to do so has been greatly reduced since I discovered the magic of the Totaldac USB cable. Its addition is equivalent to a significant component upgrade. I haven't received this sort of an unexpected improvement to the sound quality of my system since I added my Audience AR6-TSSOX power conditioner. My computer audio is finally living up to its full potential.

Ken
 
This is a very interesting thread. I already use the Melco N1A which is effectively an audiophile hard drive. I wonder if this cable is worth a try or whether the Melco is already set up sufficiently to reduce gigital noise .
Not sure if I can get one on trial in the uk
 
Womaz said:
This is a very interesting thread. I already use the Melco N1A which is effectively an audiophile hard drive. I wonder if this cable is worth a try or whether the Melco is already set up sufficiently to reduce gigital noise .
Not sure if I can get one on trial in the uk
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Hi Womaz,

Hard for me to say because your computer audio may already be maximized. Mine wasn't but the Totaldac cable brought me there. It is definitely worth listening to one if you can borrow it.

Best,
Ken
 
nfnc said:
Ken, I have heard good things about the TotalDac USB cable so your findings are not surprising. Reportedly one of the most musical around.

You might also want to consider the Curious USB cable. Musical but different strengths.

I have attached links from someone who has heard both.

http://singaporehifi.blogspot.sg/search/label/Totaldac?m=0

http://singaporehifi.blogspot.sg/search/label/Curious Cables?m=0
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Thanks nfnc,

Le Roy and Mike appear to be interested in the Curious cable. As for me, when I strike oil, I stop drilling. ;)

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
I am stunned by the musicality and soundstage of the Totaldac USB cable every time I listen to it. This is the first USB cable I've ever heard that does not deliver even a hint of "digital" sound. For those who are considering adding vinyl to their existing digital source, listen to this cable first. For those who feel the urgency to move from their Mac Mini or Macbook to an audiophile music server, listen to this cable first.

I'm not saying that I won't eventually purchase an audiophile music server but the urgency to do so has been greatly reduced since I discovered the magic of the Totaldac USB cable. Its addition is equivalent to a significant component upgrade. I haven't received this sort of an unexpected improvement to the sound quality of my system since I added my Audience AR6-TSSOX power conditioner. My computer audio is finally living up to its full potential.

Ken
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If I had to quantify the significant improvement I'm experiencing changing from the Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 USB cable to the Totaldac USB cable, I would estimate approximately 40%. I realize this sounds like an absurdly high number but when you consider I was hearing treble brightness on much of the computer driven music I listened to and now this brightness and virtually all digital remnants have disappeared, this seems like an appropriate number. I realize it sounds like I'm gushing but the Totaldac USB cable is that good. Transformative would be the appropriate adjective.

Ken
 
This is interesting , I wish I could get a trial of this. I have a slight issue with my treble brightness at times too. I have recently bought some bass traps and they have helped tone things down a little, but I still have a bit of brightness. Would love to tame this without losing any detail. This cable may do that.
 
Womaz said:
This is interesting , I wish I could get a trial of this. I have a slight issue with my treble brightness at times too. I have recently bought some bass traps and they have helped tone things down a little, but I still have a bit of brightness. Would love to tame this without losing any detail. This cable may do that.
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Hi Womaz,

Based on what you're describing, the Totaldac USB cable should work well for you. In my opinion, the treble does not sound rolled off. It just sounds right. Rich, organic and musical with a big soundstage. Very transparent. More like real music than any other cable I've heard. I own Cardas Clear, Audioquest Diamond and WW Platinum 7 USB cables.

Best,
Ken
 
Hey Ken, glad you are thrilled with the Totaldac USB cable. I noticed the box attached to the cable. Does this do what the Regen does? Would it make the Regen redundant? Or does the box do something else altogether?

I've heard that there is a Totaldac dealer somewhere in the Midwest? Where did you get your cable?
 
Odyssey said:
Hey Ken, glad you are thrilled with the Totaldac USB cable. I noticed the box attached to the cable. Does this do what the Regen does? Would it make the Regen redundant? Or does the box do something else altogether?

I've heard that there is a Totaldac dealer somewhere in the Midwest? Where did you get your cable?
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Hi Le Roy,

Adam (Elberoth) is using both the Regen and the Totaldac USB Cable with his Trinity DAC and getting excellent results. There might be some redundancy but they appear to work well together. I ordered mine direct from Vincent Brient at Totaldac. I called him first and then he sent me an e-mail with payment information. Payment is made through Paypal. I then e-mailed him my shipping information. Delivery was by FedEx and took just a few days. All in all, very easy to buy direct from him.

There is a break-in period on this cable. For me, the treble sounded ragged for the first 25 hours. When it hit 30 hours it really started to come into its own and has been gradually improving ever since.

All the best,
Ken
 
Odyssey said:
Hey Ken, glad you are thrilled with the Totaldac USB cable. I noticed the box attached to the cable. Does this do what the Regen does? Would it make the Regen redundant? Or does the box do something else altogether?

I've heard that there is a Totaldac dealer somewhere in the Midwest? Where did you get your cable?
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Hi Le Roy,

After rereading your post, I don't think I adequately answered your question, so let me try again.

The Totaldac USB cable employs a sealed aluminum box that contains more than 30 components that employ high performance filtration to suppress digital pollution coming from the computer or music server. The box will even protect your DAC from an over voltage situation. Consequently, the sound is more natural, more transparent and without harshness. The result is surprising and helps to improve the playback quality from a computer based source. The aluminum box is sealed with epoxy and cannot easily be opened because the circuit design is proprietary.

As I previously stated, there may be some redundancy between the Regen and the Totaldac USB cable as both utilize digital filtration but there appears to be a net benefit by applying both in the same system. Perhaps Adam will chime in on his experience utilizing both the Regen and Totaldac USB cable with his Trinity DAC.

All the best,
Ken
 
I am interested in this cable and may order one. Unfortunately I need 2 Meters. I find it very interesting that you found it to be that much better than the WW Platinum. I never found the Platinum bright and it is my favorite cable so far. I sounded better than the Lightspeed and Straight Wire USBF which were both extremely bright and difficult to listen too in my system. Clearly, usb cables are system dependent. I found that the Regen is the great equalizer of usb cables though. I my system the Regen made all cables sound similar except for a Pangea silver which sounding thin. By the way, a friend of mine brought over an IFI USB3 and a Gemini Cable. We had 4 guys over and we all found that the IFI USB3 sounded better and more refined than the Regen. It also took more of the digital edge out.
 
Mechnutt said:
I am interested in this cable and may order one. Unfortunately I need 2 Meters. I find it very interesting that you found it to be that much better than the WW Platinum. I never found the Platinum bright and it is my favorite cable so far. I sounded better than the Lightspeed and Straight Wire USBF which were both extremely bright and difficult to listen too in my system. Clearly, usb cables are system dependent. I found that the Regen is the great equalizer of usb cables though. I my system the Regen made all cables sound similar except for a Pangea silver which sounding thin. By the way, a friend of mine brought over an IFI USB3 and a Gemini Cable. We had 4 guys over and we all found that the IFI USB3 sounded better and more refined than the Regen. It also took more of the digital edge out.
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Hi Mechnutt,

I've spoken with several people who have moved from the WW Platinum 7 to the Totaldac USB cable due to its more organic presentation and bigger soundstage. However, I think the benefits derived from moving to the Totaldac USB cable are dependent on the music server being utilized. I currently run a stock Mac Mini that is not maximized for audiophile use, which results in me getting a huge bump in performance from the Totaldac's filtration. Now let's say I had an Uptone modified Mac Mini with linear power supply and the Regen. The reduction in noise provided by the linear power supply and filtration of the Regen would in theory reduce the benefits of moving to the Totaldac USB cable. Now what if you have an Aurender N10, W20 or Antipodes DX music server? This is the big question as these music servers are built from scratch to provide audiophile performance through ultra low noise. I would love to hear from someone who is running one of these and compares the WW Platinum 7 to the Totaldac. Elberoth currently uses a Lampizator Komputer with Regen and still uses the Totaldac USB cable with his Trinity DAC.

When I eventually purchase an audiophile music server, the first thing I will try is placing the WW Platinum 7 back in my system and then the Totaldac to see which sounds better. Same deal if I purchase the Regen.

Best,
Ken
 
It's too bad that there is not a dealer here in the States who has a trial period for the Total DAC USB. I run a Dell Laptop that is dedicated to audio. It's an I-7 with 16gigs of ram running Bug Head. I have my music on a 3 TB Western Digital Red HD. I would love to compare it to a music server.
 
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