Data only USB cable

[bumpy]

Most quality off board DACs incorporate their own 5 volt power supply and in that sense do no need to draw power from the source.

There is a breed of USB cables that are called data only (no power) and as such are more likely to give audiophile performance. Can anyone recommend any.

Please note - if it’s your opinion that cables make no difference, please don’t corrupt this thread.

[Mr.Ian]

Yes you can buy these, try the bay. But an easy cheap mod is to put insulation tape over the pins on the usb lead at the source

[dave2010]

I do know that USB cables can make a difference, though I've not compared any for audio. A long while back I used to transfer video from a PVR to my computers, and I had one cable which would do the job - but only if it was suspended above the floor by a few inches. This was repeatable. There may well be cables which would work without this extra precaution, but I never tested enough to know. So I do believe that USB cables may make a difference. Whether this is truly audible in cables used for audio purposes I can't say - it would depend on the source and the receiver, but I'd expect well screened cables to do better.Not having the power alongside the signal might make a difference, and as suggested, should not put a load on the source which could affect the signal.

Good luck with your quest. I'd be interested to know what turns up.

[Hudz]

These are quite spendy, but the separate power line seems to make all the difference https://curiouscables.com/products reviews here https://curiouscables.com/media-reviews

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/3de688b8-f6db-449f-9b48-12b3d76d4b12/Web%20pic%202.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,cg:true

Very transparent and open sound with my headphone/dac

[dave2010]

As you say - a bit pricey. Still, if it works for you ... $350 for 0.8 metres in the linked file. Might be Ozzy dollars, so cheaper, but sill a bit hefty.

Could a DIY job get close to this?

[julesd68]

I recently bought a silver USB cable from Gothic Audio which has split power and data.
Only just installed so bit early to form an opinion.

https://gothicaudio.com/collections/digital-interconnects-1/products/ag8-2-split-power-data-pure-silver-usb-interconnect

[Hudz]

Got mine before they became famous from that auction site for 50 quid, but it's only the 0.3m link lead.

Tried to DIY a USB A to micro B, damn near impossible for my skillset, waaaaaay too fiddly.

[bumpy]

I recently bought a silver USB cable from Gothic Audio which has split power and data.
Only just installed so bit early to form an opinion.

https://gothicaudio.com/collections/digital-interconnects-1/products/ag8-2-split-power-data-pure-silver-usb-interconnect

I'd love to hear comparisons of that cable.

[Yomanze]

Most quality off board DACs incorporate their own 5 volt power supply and in that sense do no need to draw power from the source.

There is a breed of USB cables that are called data only (no power) and as such are more likely to give audiophile performance. Can anyone recommend any.

Please note - if it’s your opinion that cables make no difference, please don’t corrupt this thread.

It's not my opinion that cables make no difference, but why do you think you'd get audiophile performance from a data-only cable? DACs that use their own 5V supply will not connect to USB cable's power line, so there will be no current flow on the USB cable power line, so effectively the same thing as using a data-only cable.

[Made in 1968]

USB Giving Audiophile performance! However thats only my view..

:lol:

[mjw25a]

@julesd68 have you used the Gothic Audio cables long enough to form an opinion yet? I'm interested in these so would appreciate your feedback on them :)

[Filterlab]

Yes you can buy these, try the bay. But an easy cheap mod is to put insulation tape over the pins on the usb lead at the source

Or pull back the insulation on the cable, clip a section from the voltage wires, and then heatshrink back in place.

I've only had to do it once when my Beresford DAC brought up an excess current draw warning on my iMac. Generally speaking though it wouldn't normally make a difference.

[julesd68]

@julesd68 have you used the Gothic Audio cables long enough to form an opinion yet? I'm interested in these so would appreciate your feedback on them :)I'm sorry that I can't give you any further information on them - I've hardly been able to use my system in the past year and have a lot of catching up to do. I actually bought another one to run from reclocker to DAC but not tried it yet.

[Silent]

Yes you can buy these, try the bay. But an easy cheap mod is to put insulation tape over the pins on the usb lead at the source

The reason for my reply is that I am very interested in any (essentially) free upgrade in SQ for my system, but I do have a question. The USB cable I use is connected to a streamer (source) and then to a DAC, would this method still provide an imporvement? Because as I see it (and I am genuinely hoping to be proven wrong), the USB cable can't be transferring or providing power because both ends of the connection are powered by their own supply (if that makes sense).

[StanleyB]

If you have the Caiman MKII or Caiman SEG it is best to use a USB cable that has had the power supply wire cut. The Caiman USB does not take power from the source, i.e. a PC or streamer. The Caiman uses its own dedicated low noise internal supply for the USB.

[wee tee cee]

lavricables dual headed ultimate usb . One socket in the zen powers it the other handles the data.

Have a single lavri usb 30cm if memory serves you can try to see if silver suits you.

The dual head lives in my main rig.