View Full Version : USB cable recommendations
wee tee cee
24-10-2018, 16:17
Ive been using a Lavri pro for a while and its superb....best ive tried over supra/furatech/cheapos.
any members have a favourte thats not funny money-will need two maybe 50cm?
dont need a circular cable discussion, just anecdotal experience please!!
many thanks!!!
Read more: http://theaudiostandard.net/thread/4541/usb-cable-reccomendations#ixzz5UrkKxc00
jandl100
24-10-2018, 16:26
Wireworld Starlight. :thumbsup:
wee tee cee
24-10-2018, 16:32
Thanks Jerry...
Ammonite Audio
24-10-2018, 17:38
Kimber USB cables, priced from £47, would be my choice. I’ve had cheap ‘Belkin’ branded USB cables which the Kimber trounces in terms of SQ, with ease.
It's important that the USB cable is officially certified i.e. has a characteristic 90 Ohms impedance, so this is what I look for, as well as quick 'thick' cable, so I know it has decent shielding.
My choice would be (and I actually had to do a bit of digging to find something suitable): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1m-USB-2-0-CERTIFIED-Hi-Speed-HQ-Shielded-A-to-B-Cable-Lead-001292/191946077368?epid=1680481840&hash=item2cb0e0b4b8:g:q3MAAOSw-nRbw1u6:rk:13:pf:0
Note it has: "This cable carries the "Certified USB v2.0" label." in the description. :)
You might also experiment with a couple of ferrite clamps for a few quid each.
Ammonite Audio
24-10-2018, 19:13
I do wonder how many of the cheap cables on eBay, even those allegedly branded, conform to any standard?
I do wonder how many of the cheap cables on eBay, even those allegedly branded, conform to any standard?
On Canford.co.uk, or Blue Jeans Cable, they're still a few quid each. Kenable is a reputable seller, so I expect that one to be good.
This topic is very interesting actually, the USB 2.0 spec has a section on what cable we need:
"A full-speed USB connection is made through a shielded, twisted pair cable with a differential characteristic impedance (Z0) of 90 Ω ±15%, a common mode impedance (ZCM) of 30 Ω ±30%, and a maximum one-way delay (TFSCBL) of 26 ns. When the full-speed driver is not part of a high-speed capable transceiver, the impedance of each of the drivers (ZDRV) must be between 28 Ω and 44 Ω [...]. When the full-speed driver is part of a high-speed capable transceiver, the impedance of each of the drivers (ZHSDRV) must be between 40.5 Ω and 49.5 Ω."
Now, I wonder how many exotic / audiophile cables conform to this?
RS Pro range and StarTek cables conform to standard
wee tee cee
25-10-2018, 05:04
thanks folks
Spectral Morn
25-10-2018, 09:01
Wireworld Starlight. :thumbsup:
+ 1
My current choice.
wee tee cee
25-10-2018, 11:54
I see lavri cables does a two headed usb in theyre reference range....may well go with this.
I will need 2 usb cables any way
ive been using a lavri reference for a while-very impressed with it
Read more: http://theaudiostandard.net/thread/4538/usb-sources-dac?page=1#ixzz5UwX2bvon
Like you I have been thoroughly impressed with Lavricables.
Might try their interconnects next.
wee tee cee
25-10-2018, 12:11
I went the silver route a while back.
Brian made me up some neotech and yarbo ICs utilising wbt silver solder.
wbt silver plugs on the yarbo
silver kle on the neotech
both excellent cables IMHO
Bigman80
25-10-2018, 12:21
I went the silver route a while back.
Brian made me up some neotech and yarbo ICs utilising wbt silver solder.
wbt silver plugs on the yarbo
silver kle on the neotech
i bought all the ingredients from hi fi collective, Brian worked his magic!
Both excellent cables IMHONeotech and yarbo USB cables?
ijrussell
25-10-2018, 20:18
The Supra USB is great value at £27 for 0.7m -> https://www.markgrantcables.co.uk/uk/digital-cables/usb-cables/supra-usb-20-cable-type-a-to-b-plug/
wee tee cee
26-10-2018, 07:07
The Supra USB is great value at £27 for 0.7m -> https://www.markgrantcables.co.uk/uk/digital-cables/usb-cables/supra-usb-20-cable-type-a-to-b-plug/
used supra for a good while then upgraded to a furatech.
then the move to lavri was another improvement
Which version of the V-Link are you using? Or are you using your DAC’s USB input?
wee tee cee
26-10-2018, 13:26
my amp is a tq claymore with a usb dac input....seriously good dac imho
my amp is a tq claymore with a usb dac input....seriously good dac imho
Probably has a well-sorted power supply too. :) Was thinking whether something like an AQVOX USB interrupting power supply would have been useful.
Seeing as I spent a while looking for the Kenable cable I mentioned earlier, I got one, need it for an external DVD writer and an old Zip drive. Has the USB cert label on it. :)
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181028/4e389bb223ee8483c5f513ec26e5e445.jpg
Stratmangler
28-10-2018, 14:47
Probably has a well-sorted power supply too. :) Was thinking whether something like an AQVOX USB interrupting power supply would have been useful.
Seeing as I spent a while looking for the Kenable cable I mentioned earlier, I got one, need it for an external DVD writer and an old Zip drive. Has the USB cert label on it. :)
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181028/4e389bb223ee8483c5f513ec26e5e445.jpg
The CE mark is incorrect, so I'd take the certification to be fabricated too.
I was happy with wireworld ultraviolet when I last used usb
The CE mark is incorrect, so I'd take the certification to be fabricated too.
Doubtful. As mentioned Kenable are a reputable seller, and you are looking at a sticky label on the packaging, often see these CE symbols printed weirdly.
That CE Mark looks fine but anything that simple can be faked
The cable used is the CSA LL204790. I found this blurb on another site:
“Despite their price these leads are of very good quality and this same lead often sells on the high street in fancy packaging for 5 times the price.”
https://adeptnetworks.co.uk/usb-2-0-a-b-leads
This cable is thicker than typical ‘freebie’ cables and is very robustly built, I think the ideal ‘reference’ cable in a USB cable test.
Stratmangler
28-10-2018, 21:21
Ah, so it's the "never mind whether or not the certification is fine, feel the width" approach.
The CE font is quite specific, and the cable packaging font looks suspect.
On top of that, the Chinese have no qualms producing whichever standards markings you want, but it doesn't mean that the items actually meet that standard.
Ah, so it's the "never mind whether or not the certification is fine, feel the width" approach.
The CE font is quite specific, and the cable packaging font looks suspect.
On top of that, the Chinese have no qualms producing whichever standards markings you want, but it doesn't mean that the items actually meet that standard.
Hmm it's just a packet dude. This same cable is sold at many reputable sellers & I suspect is so cheap because of bulk / economies of scale - I don't think that this particular product is a Chinese scam. :P
As for 'made in China' some of the finest hardware in the world, like Apple products & Lenovo Thinkpads, are made in China. There is of course a lot of knockoff gear & copying that also goes on, fake caps etc.
technobear
14-11-2018, 20:58
Sorry to resurrect a thread from a couple of weeks ago but I see everyone here is recommending USB cables without a mention of a device that can render the choice moot.
Get an iFi Audio iPurifier2 and keep using the Supra/Furutech or whatever cheap but not too cheap cable.
Kimber gets a thumbs up from me. I have three of those at different lengths. The longest is 5m and works very well.
iFi cables are great too but a tad pricey.
wee tee cee
19-11-2018, 14:58
Went for the two headed lavri cable....wont work with the laptop and zen connected.
one spur runs with the zen on its own....bit of a headscratcher!!
may ask a mate to convert to two usb cables and put the switching box in play....at least all the cables will be the same.
this hobby can be a right pain in the hoop sometimes!!
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