Purple Iridium USB audio server connector - the final solution?

[Tim]

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/greatgig/usb_zps47515923.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/greatgig/media/usb_zps47515923.jpg.html)

OK, so its not purple or made of Iriduim, but this is considered by many (including many DAC manufacturers) the best way to connect your DAC to your music server, but some won't tell you that. May need some creative sighting of your equipment, but think what you can save and think about this as opposed to a cable - is any cable going to be better than a direct connection?

If you want a Gucci one, paint it purple and sprinkle it with pixie dust ;)

£1.17 + Free Delivery

High Speed USB 2.0 Type A Male To B Data Transfer Converter Adapter Connector PC (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350766244078?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

:sofa:

[The Grand Wazoo]

I feel sure this can't be correct Tim.........surely if this is the best, then your decimal point is waaaaaaaaay too far over to the left?

[John]

I know quite a few people that use this method with really good results. Manufactures like John Kenny recommend this

[Gazjam]

I'd go for this in a hearbeat, but would need to totally rearrange my rack.

as the Archbishop said to the...

[electric beach]

Just ordered (cheers for the heads-up John).

I'll use from external HD into Oppo as file player. Same rack issues but brings a new meaning to thinking outside the box :rolleyes:

[Gazjam]

same issue here.
Like how my dac looks (Young) so dont want to hide it away.

sad..lol.

[electric beach]

Ah, but do you put the music first or the equipment!
(said firmly tongue in cheek)

Truth is we want both, eh?

I have the same trouble with the amp I sell. The sound is literally incredible because it looks like a toy :lol:

same issue here.
Like how my dac looks (Young) so dont want to hide it away.

sad..lol.

[wee tee cee]

Bought one to try between the v-link and lap top........eliminating the usb!!!!!!!!!
Better be good as it aint cheap,could have bought a loaf of bread or tub of milk for that kind of money!

[Tim]

I'd go for this in a hearbeat, but would need to totally rearrange my rack.
Well you could try buying something like a Lindy 20cm USB cable, remove the outer cover, separate the two data and two +5V & GND power lines, shield them separately and then put some of that sexy braided sleeving over it, some heat-shrink to tidy up and make it look pretty .... then viola :D

You could even tell your mates it cost a grand and they might even believe you. Keep the cable as short as possible, direct connect if you can, if you can't, run the two sets of wire separately (dual conduit), shield them from each other and you have discovered the 'black art' of USB cables. Anything happening beyond that is colouration and is most defiantly not what you should be hoping to achieve (all IMHO of course). Of course you can cryo treat them and use solid core silver wire if you want to and get those pixies to help out too :lol:

This is all that's in a USB cable folks;

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/greatgig/usb_zps47341b45.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/greatgig/media/usb_zps47341b45.jpg.html)

[MCRU]

Well you could try buying something like a Lindy 20cm USB cable, remove the outer cover, separate the two data and two +5V & GND power lines, shield them separately and then put some of that sexy braided sleeving over it, some heat-shrink to tidy up and make it look pretty .... then viola :D

You could even tell your mates it cost a grand and they might even believe you. Keep the cable as short as possible, direct connect if you can, if you can't, run the two sets of wire separately (dual conduit), shield them from each other and you have discovered the 'black art' of USB cables. Anything happening beyond that is colouration and is most defiantly not what you should be hoping to achieve (all IMHO of course). Of course you can cryo treat them and use solid core silver wire if you want to and get those pixies to help out too :lol:

This is all that's in a USB cable folks;

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/greatgig/usb_zps47341b45.jpg (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/greatgig/media/usb_zps47341b45.jpg.html)

oh I do like your posts Tim, you are the man! :)

[Tim]

Just like to keep folk aware of current trends amongst the computer audio geeks and as AoS likes to promote the best bang for your buck sound-wise, it seemed to make sense ;)

I do have a warped sense of humour too . . .

[Gazjam]

Stripped a USB cable in this way a while back Tim and had a play with it...
Separating the 5V line from signal can have a positive effect, just depends on whether your dac needs the power line to function properly.

My own Young can work without the 5V line BUT...couple of problems.

I dont get the natty "lo-tech" bitrate display any more (important! :)) and hires files plays at the wrong speed!
Its weird, up to 24/192 plays fast and anything above plays slow.
I had a similar problem when I was playing around with the USB output mod back in my SB Touch days, seperating the 5V from the signal can have an adverse effect on some Dacs.
Using my Caiman then and had similar (but different) issues.

Definately worth a try though, just depends if your Dac likes it or not.

I've ordered one of the adapter thingmy's you linked to Tim for the bedroom system, always say the best cable is no cable.

[roob]

It would take some creative thinking to connect a full size dac to a PC or laptop using that adaptor.

[John]

I seen it been done a few times

[roob]

Pics?
No chance with my dac, you could possibly get away with it on a little fag packet style dac.

[John]

Small battery powered DACS like the Cunas

[electric beach]

I received my doohickey today. Had a Muppet moment though. I wanted to try connecting my self powered hard drive directly to the Oppo 103 Blu ray player, which I use for file replay. I thought I had it all figured out regarding siting on a shelf - until I offered the two up together, perfect height alignment but the USB/B connection was upside down...

Undeterred I rigged it up just for a temporary listen, which worked fine. Then the Muppet moment - I realised that just for an assessment I could have turned the bloody player upside down :doh:

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/5134/oeca.jpg

[wee tee cee]

I received the wee connector today, I run a lap top/USB/v-link/5m optical to my DAC on the other side of the fire place. I run a long 4m usb to the v link to let me sit the lap top next to me across from the kit (usually balanced on my lap or purloined by my better half) .
The wee adaptor went between the v-link/lap top you just have to place the v-link on its back with some blobs of blu tack to keep it in place ( the usb is upside down).

Sounded better than with the USB in play( Furatech F2) I still need the USB for the convenience of using the lap top whilst the music is playing ie she can surf for shoes and handbags and I still get to listen to ma tunes!!!!!

For pure sound quality I cant really envisage any USB that will better it, just losing the convenience of the lap top being able to sit anywhere in the room with the long USB.

When I eventually get the funds together to get my basic Korus server built (gazjam) my good lady can have the lap top and surf to her hearts content and my plastics destruction.

Sound per pound ........many thanks Tim.

[Spectral Morn]

Bought one of these awhile back and the fact the orientation of the plug is wrong means I can't easily, I would have to turn the DAC upside down. If that was the only issue I might have had ago but the mains cable blocks the use of the adapter - its too short to clear the mains cable plug from the side of the laptop:(

You can buy adapters with a swivel but at £30 + and a link/joint break in the connection (cable inside?) I felt it would defeat the purpose of removing cable from the connection, so I haven't bothered.



Regards Neil

[Tim]

Thanks for trying it out guys, not much to spend if it doesn't work but it does hopefully demonstrate that USB cables can make a difference, but that difference doesn't have to break the bank. There are certain simple rules to follow and ways to avoid paying quite frankly disgusting prices which I actually find distasteful and makes me a little ashamed to be part of the so called 'audiophile' community. Keeping them short works, separating the data and power lines works too, but short is good and as long as the component parts are good quality then you really have to question the mark-up on some cables. It actually makes my blood boil if I'm being honest :steam:

At the moment I'm running one into an HRT Music Streamer II+ and yes, I agree for many DAC's out there connection can be an issue, but there are numerous DAC's that can be used with this method, just takes a bit of thinking, research and testing to find something that works for you or just some creative positioning . . . love the pic from Steve too. I like to get the best sound I can and spend the least amount of money as I'm an Irish tight arse :lol: You just need to think outside the box occasionally and try things out, some work, some don't, but USB cables are not a black art - and anyone is more than welcome to crap on this thread with their sarcastic comments ;)

Anyway, I may get accused of bad form with some of these comments but its my thread, however . . . .

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2011/09/30/1317380769920-4696bnaz4509-670-70.jpg

[Clive]

I've used the direct connector to great effect but I really needed a 90 degree angle version. The swivel type I found didn't work well, maybe the wires were screwed inside. I instead bought A and B usb plugs from Maplin, these are rather expensive at £1.89 each so £3.78 in total. http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-2.0-plugs-219686

If you can solder then you can lash up something like this high priced alternative to Tim's suggestion.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/shortusbcable.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/shortusbcable.jpg.html)

[John]

Great one Clive

[wee tee cee]

I had to put the v-link upside down with some blobs of blu tack holding it in place , the lap top just needed a magazine( motorcycle sport and leisure) under it to match up the heights- worked a treat......when my good lady came home put the USB back in place......sadly the sound didn't improve any with the cable back in play.

Thanks Tim for pointer..... best couple of quid upgrade made in some time (apart from the otex wax treatment one of the troops suggested- surprised at just how much my hearing was improved with a good de-wax)

although my wife has suggested it didn't work that well as I still don't hear most of what she says!