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Thread: Do USB cables make an audible difference?

  1. #11
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

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    I'm Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Boyse6748 View Post
    I don’t doubt that statement but does this also pertain to USB cables?
    Quite probably. I was merely illustrating the fact that unlikely as it may seem, different 'digital' cables vary in how they affect the sound and some are audibly less detrimental than others.

  2. #12
    Join Date: Aug 2008

    Location: Suffolk, UK

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    I'm Paul.

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    If you wanted to dabble for little cost buy a half decent Lindy cable with the shortest length that you can and compare to a longer standard cable. At worst you are likely to have a cable with better contacts and better mechanical fit than the standard offering, not a bad thing for a cable that could potentially be fitted and forgotten about for a long time.

    You’ll be surprised what a tarnished contact can do on a data cable.
    ~Paul~

  3. #13
    Join Date: Feb 2016

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    I'm Peter.

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    Geoff,

    Never a doubt in my mind, “especially with digital RCA cables”.

    However, I relegated all that cable stuff and gone direct streaming via Roon Sever to a MicroRendu and usb to my Mytek Brooklyn. (With the usual analogue RCA Connection to the Amp.

    Bloody Fabulous.

    Peter


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  4. #14
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Much Wenlock

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    I'm Gary.

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    Quote Originally Posted by CageyH View Post
    Gary,

    A kind offer - one condition though. If it does not make a difference I can send it back to you?
    Yep, not a problem.

  5. #15
    Join Date: Dec 2014

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    I tried a slightly expensive 'Atlas' USB cable for a giggle. Didn't find it a jot better than my usual Belkin or Lindy cheapo models.

    Generally I find Lindy to be great quality at a great price for all my cable needs (I also have a fair few video type ones from them...)

  6. #16
    Join Date: Apr 2018

    Location: South East Cornwall

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    I'm Dominic.

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    Once had a brief play with a JIB Silver Arsenic USB cable and it was only brief with an £800 price tag. I don't normally dabble in streaming and such-like and as far as USB cables go I was firmly in the 1's and 0's camp thinking there is no way a USB cable can alter the sound for the better. Couldn't have been more wrong, it transformed the sound and if I was more involved with the digital aspects I would consider looking into upgrade USB cables for sure. Maybe not 800 notes worth!
    CD player = Marantz CD6006
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  7. #17
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Norwich

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    I'm Hugo.

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    For me, USB cables can and do make an audible difference, but the question is "how much do you have to pay to get better sound quality?" Sadly, I don't think there's much relationship between price and performance here, but my £60 Kimber is audibly better than an inexpensive and supposedly genuine Belkin cable that I bought specially for the North West Audio Show. I'd be open to trying other USB cables out of curiosity, rather than intent to buy.

  8. #18
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Toulouse, France

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    I'm Kevin.

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    That is the issue for me Hugo.
    It is the price relative to the performance gain of 1's and 0's arriving at their destination unharmed.
    I can understand that removing the power from the cable may be beneficial for audio use, but I can do this with insulation tape if needed.
    Kevin

    Too busy enjoying the music....

    European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..

  9. #19
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

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    I'm Gary.

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    Getting those 1’s and 0’s to your dac unharmed is a tougher nut to crack than many assume it is.

    From personal experience USB isn’t the best way to connect to a Dac, the better (read: more expensive) cables sound better as they better mitigate the inherant problems with USB transfer.
    USB cables can sound different..but I’d avoid USB if you can.

    Sometimes if your using a laptop or PC its unavoidable, in that case I’d buy a USB to coax converter, the best one Ive heard (and owned back in the day) was a Musical Fidelity VLink 192.
    Last edited by Gazjam; 27-06-2018 at 21:47.
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  10. #20
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: gone

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gazjam View Post
    Sometimes if your using a laptop ot PC its unavoidable, in that case I’d buy a USB to coax converter, the best one Ive heard (and owned back in the day) was a Musical Fidelity VLink 192.
    Yup, I use a Halide Bridge USB/co-ax converter. It was not a subtle improvement over a straight USB connection.
    .

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