Desk Jockey Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Hi, The CASH list doesn't include cables which is probably smart on Chris's part. The pros and cons of USB cables have been discussed relentlessly in a variety of threads here in CA. While I have no interest in revisiting the pros and cons, I can't help but wonder what cables are actually in use. So the question is simple, "What USB cable are you using now?" Me? Kimber Kable, B Bus Ag, .75 meter. UPDATED 2/2/12: 88 Cables Submitted Qty Brand Model 11 Wireworld Starlight 10 Generic 8 Audioquest Carbon 6 Cardas Clear 5 Wireworld Ultraviolet 4 Audioquest Cinnamon 3 Acoustic Revive 3 Audioquest Forest 3 Kimber Silver 3 Nordost Blue Heaven 3 Transparent Audio 2 Audioquest Diamond 2 Belkin 2 Kimber USB 2 Locus Polestar 2 Oyaide Neo d+ 1 Analog Research Technology 1 Analysis Plus 1 AR-T Custom 1 ARC Silver Reference 1 Furutech GT2 1 LaCie 1 Locus Axis 1 Monster 1 Nuforce Impulse 1 Oyen Digital USB3.0 1 Pangea 1 Pangea USB-AG 1 Radio Shack 1 Siltech Classic Anniversary 1 Space Shuttle D II 1 StraightWire 1 Synergistic Tricon 1 WyWires LITESPD 1 Ziotek Thanks for Playing, Greg \'08 MacMini/OS X 10.7/4G/160G SSD - iomega 1TB - Pure Music 1.82 /Amarra 2.3.1 - Weiss DAC202 - Kimber Select KS1120 XLR 1M - Bel Canto REF1000 MKII - Audience AU24 2.5M - Magnepan 1.7[br]\'08 iMac 24\"/4G/500G - Sony CRU_840A - G_Drive 2TB - DroboFS 3TB - Pure Vinyl 3.0 - Metric Halo LI0 8/4 - VPI Classic - Van den Hul Frog - S300iu - Kimber 8TC - KEF Ref 201/2 Link to comment
mitch751 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I have been using my printer USB for quite sometime. Just changed it to Audioquest carbon 1.5 meters, but not a significant improvement. wgscott 1 B&W 800 Diamond D2, Goldmund Eidos Reference CD, Goldmund Telos 600, Goldmund Mimesis 32, Cello Audio Palette MIV.[br]MacBook Pro, LIO, Mytek 192, HD800, Luxman SQ-38U, Luxman MQ-88u Link to comment
wgscott Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Apart from the USB end of my Halide Bridge. My uninformed opinion is that any USB2 cable that costs over $2 is probably fine, unless it has a manufacturing defect. Link to comment
Desk Jockey Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 Wgscott, So that's a vote for generic? 2 meters? \'08 MacMini/OS X 10.7/4G/160G SSD - iomega 1TB - Pure Music 1.82 /Amarra 2.3.1 - Weiss DAC202 - Kimber Select KS1120 XLR 1M - Bel Canto REF1000 MKII - Audience AU24 2.5M - Magnepan 1.7[br]\'08 iMac 24\"/4G/500G - Sony CRU_840A - G_Drive 2TB - DroboFS 3TB - Pure Vinyl 3.0 - Metric Halo LI0 8/4 - VPI Classic - Van den Hul Frog - S300iu - Kimber 8TC - KEF Ref 201/2 Link to comment
mwheelerk Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I have (2) Wireworld Ultraviolet USB cables connecting my (2) Western Digital 1TB HDD to my Mac Mini. I have a Wireworld Starlight connecting my Mac Mini to my DAC. Whether or not there is any audible benefit or performance to these higher grade cables does not matter to me as much as the confidence in the build construction of the cables. I have too many personal and professional experiences with how cheap cables such as those included with many devices can fail and cause problems. "A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open." Frank Zappa Link to comment
wgscott Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I didn't think we were voting. So, if you are asking me, I guess the best USB cable is one that is coax at the other end. Link to comment
Paul R Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I have pretty much settled on AudioQuest Forest or Cinnamon cables for audio purposes, and Belkin for USB data connections. The $8 Belkin sounds good (and meets the $2 qualification and is tough. The Audioquest Forest is pure copper, and sounds about the same as the Belkin, but at $29, is affordable and I have more confidence that each cable will be of the same quality. You occasionally get a bad Belkin cable. The Audioquest Cinnamon is the Forest with a bit of silver plate on it. I swear that to me, it sounds "faster" than the other cables. At $79, even if it is placebo effect, it is affordable enough I do not feel any buyer's remorse. Besides which, it is the same cable that came with the Wavelength Proton, and that is a good endorsement to me. I do think that at least to about the $100 mark, you do hear improvements with better USB cables. Though that isn't always true - the $8 Belkin trounced a borrowed "JPS Labs Superconductor Q" cable here. I think that is a rather expensive cable, and my friend was rather annoyed at me when he picked the Belkin. To make things better, he liked a Cinnamon cable better than the Belkin. -Paul Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat DAC. Robert A. Heinlein Link to comment
Desk Jockey Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 wgscott, Vote no, poll yes. The poll is what USB cable are you using? The best USB cable dicsussion can be found in other threads. Greg \'08 MacMini/OS X 10.7/4G/160G SSD - iomega 1TB - Pure Music 1.82 /Amarra 2.3.1 - Weiss DAC202 - Kimber Select KS1120 XLR 1M - Bel Canto REF1000 MKII - Audience AU24 2.5M - Magnepan 1.7[br]\'08 iMac 24\"/4G/500G - Sony CRU_840A - G_Drive 2TB - DroboFS 3TB - Pure Vinyl 3.0 - Metric Halo LI0 8/4 - VPI Classic - Van den Hul Frog - S300iu - Kimber 8TC - KEF Ref 201/2 Link to comment
Desk Jockey Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 mwheelerk, Thanks. I hadn't considered HDD cables in the poll but it makes sense to include them. I'm using the usb cable that came with my IOmega HDD with my MacMini. Greg \'08 MacMini/OS X 10.7/4G/160G SSD - iomega 1TB - Pure Music 1.82 /Amarra 2.3.1 - Weiss DAC202 - Kimber Select KS1120 XLR 1M - Bel Canto REF1000 MKII - Audience AU24 2.5M - Magnepan 1.7[br]\'08 iMac 24\"/4G/500G - Sony CRU_840A - G_Drive 2TB - DroboFS 3TB - Pure Vinyl 3.0 - Metric Halo LI0 8/4 - VPI Classic - Van den Hul Frog - S300iu - Kimber 8TC - KEF Ref 201/2 Link to comment
One and a half Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I bought a wireworld starlight USB-USB mini for the Grace Design m903, but changed it with the supplied USB cable to compare. No differences, even at 192fs, so I left it in the system. For the Halide Bridge I use the USB extension cable ordered from Halide. This works too. I can't tell the difference between the standard length and the added cable, still works nicely. AS Profile Equipment List Say NO to MQA Link to comment
barrows Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 The Nordost Blue Heaven USB, 1 meter, of course... SO/ROON/HQPe: DSD 512-Sonore opticalModuleDeluxe-Signature Rendu optical with Well Tempered Clock--DIY DSC-2 DAC with SC Pure Clock--DIY Purifi Amplifier-Focus Audio FS888 speakers-JL E 112 sub-Nordost Tyr USB, DIY EventHorizon AC cables, Iconoclast XLR & speaker cables, Synergistic Purple Fuses, Spacetime system clarifiers. ISOAcoustics Oreas footers. SONORE computer audio | opticalRendu | ultraRendu | microRendu | Signature Rendu SE | Accessories | Software | Link to comment
Brian A Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Until my V-Link and S/PDIF cable arrive, I am using a 15 foot generic USB cable running across the room. All my other USB cables are too short, so I don't hear any music coming out of them at all, even if I put the USB plug in my ear and listen carefully. The 15 foot cable makes a substantial difference. Peachtree Audio DAC-iT, Dynaco Stereo 70 Amp w/ Curcio triode cascode conversion, MCM Systems .7 Monitors Link to comment
agentsmith Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Wireworld Starlight with Acromag USB Isolator Macbook Pro/MacMini/dCS Debussy/Cambridge 650BD[br]Vitus Audio SS-010/Living Voice OBX-R2 Speakers/Ultrasone Edition 8 phones[br]Airport Express/Meridian AD88[br] Link to comment
kboss Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Wireworld Ultraviolet 1.0m to a USB hub, then again Wireworld Ultraviolet to MF V-Link (this detour allows me to use Integer mode without pops or clicks) Alix 2d13/Voyage MPD [linear PSU]-> Musical Fidelity V-LINK -> Musical Fidelity V-DAC [Little Pinkie linear PSU] -> Marantz PM7001 -> Kef iQ7SE Link to comment
ensrettet Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I use a 2.0m length of Wireworld Starlight 6 for my PC based system, which runs from a USB port on the roof of the mini-tower case, over to an Arcam rDAC on an equipment stand. On my other (Laptop) system, I use a USB2ISO isolator plugged into a Thinkpad and then a 0.5m length of Wireworld Starlight 6 into a MF V-link. I haven't compared them to other USB cables. Bought them on the strength of positive reviews of the Ultraviolet and my local dealer stocking them. Martin MF M1 CDT -> S/PDIF (AES/EBU - Black Rhodium Symphony XLR) -> MF M6 DAC -> MF M1 HPA -> Grado GS1000i Linux Mint 13 64bit, MPD 0.17.1 (AIF/FLAC) (MPad) -> USB (Wireworld Silver Starlight) -> SotM dx-USB HD (Paul Hynes SR1-9) -> S/PDIF (RCA- Black Rhodium Scherzo) -> Audiolab MDAC (A06) -> Lehmann BCL -> Sennheiser HD800 Link to comment
Al Jones Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 My office system: Locus Axis, 1 meter, between Windows Vista PC and J Kenny mod Hiface Mk2 with Aqvox power supply. My main system up to this week: Oyen Digital USB3.0, 0.5 meter, between HDD and Windows 7 PC and Entreq Konstantin, 1 meter between PC and W4S DAC2. But from this week, my hi-fi rig will be strictly USB-free. A Sonore I2S server should arrive today. The internal 2 TB HDD eliminates one USB connection and I2S out via PS Audio Perfectwave I2S-12 HDMI cable, 1 meter, eliminates the other. Al J. Al J. Modem/router + Keces DC-116 12V LPS - SGC Sonic Transporter + Sonore 12V LPS/Edwards Audio ISO-1 mains isolation transformer - Meicord Opal LAN cables - Aqvox Switch + Sbooster 9V LPS/Uptone LPS-1 - Etalon Isolator - Sonore Signature Rendu Special Edition + Mad Scientist Heretical USB data-only cable - Sonore Ultradigital + Uptone LPS-1 - PS Audio I2S-12 cable - HQ Player - Holo Spring Level 3 DAC - iPeng on iPad 2 - MK Sound 300 monitors - Mad Audio Scientist Tungsten Carbide footers - Niels Larsen NLE speaker cables - Walker Audio Reference Plus HIGH Definition Links - 2 MK Sound MX350 subs - Shakti Stones - Herbie's Super Sonic Stabilizers - Herbie's Tenderfeet - Stillpoints ERS EMI/RFI sheets - Gutwire Ultimate Ground + Entreq Minimus + Silver Minimus grounding boxes - Symposium Rollerblocks - Symposium Ultra platform - Akiko Tuning Sticks Link to comment
Jud Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Had been using AQ Forest until this weekend. Had also listened to Furutech GT2 and Wireworld Starlight in my system. Much preferred the Forest to the former, and very slightly preferred the Forest to the latter. The Carbon, after a bit less than 24 hours of break-in, sounds significantly better than the Forest to me. One never knows, do one? - Fats Waller The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. - Einstein Computer, Audirvana -> optical Ethernet to Fitlet3 -> Fibbr Alpha Optical USB -> iFi NEO iDSD DAC -> Apollon Audio 1ET400A Mini (Purifi based) -> Vandersteen 3A Signature. Link to comment
bikemig Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I read through the various postings on usb cables on this site and ended up hopelessly confused as to whether there was a sonic improvement in buying a "better" quality usb cable. So I punted and bought a Monster usb cable since it was really pretty and relatively cheap at $13. I have no idea whether it is better than my $2 printer cable but it sure as heck looks better and it helps convince me that I have a real audiophile system. Macmini (as server)-> AE Express/SB Touch-> Dacmagic plus -> Outlaw RR2150 -> PSB Image T6 (dedicated 2 channel audio system) Macmini (via toslink)-> NAD T747 -> PSB Imagine B/SVS SB2000 subwoofer (home theater) Macbook Pro-> Peachtree idecco->PSB Imagine Minis, Energy ESW-M8 subwoofer, Beyerdynamic DT880 (home office) IMac->audioengine D1 dac->airmotiv 4 (work system) Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hi bikemig - Your honesty is wonderful :~) Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Jim Smith Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 2m. Various speakers, electronics, cable, etc. on loan for manufacturers' evaluation. More or less permanently in use: Schiit Iggy (latest), Ayre QB-9 DSD, Ayre Codex, Uptone Audio ISO Regen/LPS-1 Power supply, Berkeley Audio Alpha USB, PS Audio LanRover, Small Green Computer, Sonore ultraRendu, gigaFOIL4 ethernet/optical filter - Keces PS-3 power supply, (3) MBPs - stripped down for music only, AQ Diamond USB & Ethernet, Transparent USB, Curious USB, LH Lightspeed split USB, Halide USB DAC, Audirvana +, Pure Music, ASR Emitter II Exclusive Blue amp, Ayre K-5xeMP preamp, Pass X-1 preamp, Quicksilver Mid-Mono Amps, Pass XA-30.5 amp, Duelund ICs & Speaker Cables, Paul Hynes SR-7 power supply, Grand Prix Audio Monaco Isolation racks & F1 shelves, Tannoy Canterbury SEs w/custom Duelund crossovers and stands, 2 REL 212SEs, AV RoomService EVPs, ASC Tube Traps, tons of CDs, 30 IPS masters, LPs. http://www.getbettersound.com Link to comment
RankStranger Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 GT2 0.6m Standard Mac mini 2010/iTunes (ALAC)/Pure Music & Pro-Ject RPM9.1/Ortofon Rondo Blue/Project PhonoBox SE -> Bel Canto DAC2.5 -> Acurus A200 -> Aphion Argon2 Anniversary/Impact500 & Sennheiser HD650 -> Comfy couch. Link to comment
Paul R Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hey Bikemig- that surely qualifies you as an audiophile in anyone's book! (grin) A real audiophile can squeeze a dime so hard that the silver flows out and perfectly coats a meter long copper USB cable. S'Fact! I read it in a magazine somewhere! Seriously though, I appreciate reading about your adventures, and how refreshing your approach to things can be. Yours, -Paul Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat DAC. Robert A. Heinlein Link to comment
Bear Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Made a big difference in my system! Link to comment
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