Better USB lead?

[mikmas]

Having recently swapped out a few USB cables from the pile I have accumulated over the years, I am now firmly convinced that the simple claim that 'digital is digital' is invalid and secure digital data transfer is crucial to the resultant sound.

I am curious what brands AoSers would recommend - at the moment I am looking for a USB to Mini-B USB to connect a Terratec TV/Radio tuner box and my Mac Mini 2010 (length = min 60cm)
The Terratec is bus powered with no means of an external substitute ... unfortunately the streets where I live aren't paved with gold so prices would need to as far below 50 quid as possible ;)

[Mark Grant]

I am looking for a USB to micro USB

Micro USB might be a problem as hardly any of the hi-fi market branded cables are micro USB.
Most are A to B.

A USB B female to micro USB male adapter might be a option with a type A to B cable such as Supra and they make a 0.7 metre.

adapter
http://www.lindy.co.uk/cables-adapters-c1/usb-c449/usb-2-0-c450/usb-adapter-usb-b-female-to-micro-b-male-p6025

supra USB 0.7 on ebay for expample.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=usb+b+to+micro+usb+adapter&_sop=12&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xsupra+usb +a+to+.TRS0&_nkw=supra+usb+a+to+b&_sacat=0

[Desmo]

+1 for the Supra - that's the only USB cable I use for audio purposes, but I don't use micro USB.

[orbscure]

Furutech GT2 USB A to USB B for me... I tried their GT2Pro cable direct from Japan and didn't notice any improvement over the standard GT2...

[wee tee cee]

I moved from a Supra to a Furatech f2. I heard a gt2 in my set up which was better again but I use 5m runs so it was just out of my budget.

[roob]

Is it defiantly a micro usb and not mini usb?

[mikmas]

Thanks all for the great suggestions and yes Andrew, I have checked again and it is indeed a Mini B connector - really sorry for causing confusion.

I am sorely tempted by the Furutech GT2 (also after reading the article below) but limited funds mean the Supra is more likely to be the one :)

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/furutech-gt2-usb-cable-playback-26/

[roob]

This is under £50 http://www.futureshop.co.uk/wireworld-ultraviolet-7-usb-type-a-to-mini-b-1m-p-7391.html#.VfbuQrQcgUU
and this http://www.futureshop.co.uk/atlas-element-usb-type-a-to-type-mini-b-cable-1m-p-6844.html#.Vfbvh7QcgUU
I have both and prefer the atlas.

[brian2957]

+1 for the Furutech cables , both are excellent .:)

[mikmas]

This is under £50 http://www.futureshop.co.uk/wireworld-ultraviolet-7-usb-type-a-to-mini-b-1m-p-7391.html#.VfbuQrQcgUU
and this http://www.futureshop.co.uk/atlas-element-usb-type-a-to-type-mini-b-cable-1m-p-6844.html#.Vfbvh7QcgUU
I have both and prefer the atlas.

Thanks for the tip Andrew ... got an 'as new' 1m Atlas for £27, will post result when I get it :)

[mikmas]

The Atlas cable arrived today and the difference is very clearly night and day with improvements in pretty much all aspects. Soundstage and clarity are much better but the most significant improvement is it's ability to clear out the digital mush in higher frequencies. Listening to a track by Thelonius Monk on Radio 3, piano notes had a clarity I didn't think possible from the tuner - hell, even Radio 1 is now listenable (apart from the music choice :( )


Thank to all for the very good advice ... the Atlas cable is fantastic and I'll definitely be saving some pennies for Furutech for a couple of other other boxes that could welcome the upgrade :)

[realysm42]

Bit of a sideways answer but USB Regen has made a nice difference in my system. IME, it's made more difference than swapping out USB cables has.

I've gone from using a Cardas USB cable to generic $10 USB with regen (The Cardas was loaned to me). The latter sounds significantly better! Please don't take me as saying USB cables don't matter, I think they do, just the USB Regen was surprisingly potent in what it did my sound.

BTW, this is using the generic SMPS they ship with it, I can't wait to see what the Paul Hynes SR7 does for it :eyebrows:

[Sovereign]

nterestin Martin, do you have a link or product details ?
Cheers

[mikmas]

Bit of a sideways answer but USB Regen has made a nice difference in my system. IME, it's made more difference than swapping out USB cables has.

Thanks for the suggestions Martin, presuming this to be it:
http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen
If so, I'm not sure it would be suited to the purpose I intended which doesn't involve a DAC as such (the cable is from a TV tuner which feeds a matching software interface on my Mac). The price would also mean a big stretch and a gamble I couldn't afford if it didn't cut the mustard ...might be of interest to others though :)

[realysm42]

Hi James, long time no speak mate; Mike has provided the correct link.

Of course I can't guarantee it'll do anything for you in your rig, but I bet it would ;) In a way I was a bit miffed it did anything because I've got a pretty nice audio pc steup (LDA 12A psu, SoTM PCIE card, Paul Pang Ram etc etc) and my DAC is galvanically isolated, so kinda hoped I was sorted. At the same time, I'm not going to return it as the improvement was not just excellent vfm, but very impressive regardless of the cost.

Mike, something like this would be in your budget:

http://www.futureshop.co.uk/furutech-formula-2-type-a-to-type-b-usb-cable-06m-p-4810.html#.VgEhBfQyNhE

Furutech make some good stuff, I used to have one of these and certainly had no complaints.