USB CABLES??

Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 17,237
in 2 Channel Audio
Have any of you found a discernible difference between using different USB Cables??

I have used three different ones, the last one is an Audioquest one I purchased a few years ago, and I didn't hear any difference between that or a standard one I had in the closet. can't say that I expected to but I tried it anyway..

Curious what others have found..
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Comments

  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited January 2022
    I've only had a few USB cables including this budget wire that is really pretty good for the price.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R2R77JG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    An Audioquest Carbon is a good wire at around $150-200

    https://www.crutchfield.com/p_703CAUSB5/AudioQuest-Carbon-1-5-meters-5-feet.html

    I now have an Audience AU24 SE+, it's a very good wire but it comes at a price, I found a good used one.

    https://www.tweekgeek.com/au24-se-usb-cable-standard/

    That's my experience, I know there are many here that have more savvy with good quality cables than I do.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2022
    What were the sonic differences between the three USB cables?
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited January 2022
    BlueFox wrote: »
    What were the sonic differences between the three USB cables?

    The Neo wire by Oyaide was surprising (for the cost) as it had a good overall presentation to it, but for a Copper wire it was a little too analytical in the top end for me.

    The AQ Carbon is a better wire, as should be at the price difference, much more body to the music with a better overall presentation sonically. But, with some material, still a little strident in the treble.

    I reached out to our in house Reviewer @Clipdat, as I knew he had been using the Carbon at one time, and Drew recommended the AU24 SE+. The young lad knows what he speaks of. The Audience wire is a big jump in tone, texture, a very natural presentation, and has a nice smooth top end that is much more pleasant to me.

    But, all this is obviously subjective, especially to some who don't think a USB cable can possibly make a difference in passing a signal.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    Thanks. At this point, I don't have any need for a USB cable, but when I do I want to get a good one.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,237
    Thanks Mike,

    So far I haven’t seen any improvement with what I have tried. And I should mention my findings were all on my W4S gear, my Cary gear has changed the course of my system in a big way so maybe what I find/hear now will be different as everything is more revealing..
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,411
    Mike Reeter wrote: »
    BlueFox wrote: »
    What were the sonic differences between the three USB cables?

    The Neo wire by Oyaide was surprising (for the cost) as it had a good overall presentation to it, but for a Copper wire it was a little too analytical in the top end for me.

    The AQ Carbon is a better wire, as should be at the price difference, much more body to the music with a better overall presentation sonically. But, with some material, still a little strident in the treble.

    I reached out to our in house Reviewer @Clipdat, as I knew he had been using the Carbon at one time, and Drew recommended the AU24 SE+. The young lad knows what he speaks of. The Audience wire is a big jump in tone, texture, a very natural presentation, and has a nice smooth top end that is much more pleasant to me.

    But, all this is obviously subjective, especially to some who don't think a USB cable can possibly make a difference in passing a signal.

    I did not believe HDI mattered either, until a couple days ago. I put an AQ Coffee 1 meter in the mix today...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited January 2022
    Timely! I just purchased a new DAC and was researching some of these very cables last night. Mentally I was prepared to spend $100 on a USB cable and put it against whatever USB cable I had laying around. If there was a noticeable difference then possibly moving up. Happy to hear any other thoughts on USB experience!
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin T2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC: Denafrips Pontus II Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Pass X150.8 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Morrow M4 ICs & Audio Art SC-5 ePlus, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited January 2022
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    Thanks Mike,

    So far I haven’t seen any improvement with what I have tried. And I should mention my findings were all on my W4S gear, my Cary gear has changed the course of my system in a big way so maybe what I find/hear now will be different as everything is more revealing..

    Ever try a w4s recovery? Several years ago I picked one up on a W4S black friday sale. On my rig, it made a difference. I haven't tried my rig without it since, even though my streamer and dac have changed. I probably should try it without it at some point. I am running a curious usb cable to the W4S recovery and then a Wireworld Platinum. Eventually, I want to change the Wireworld plat. To a Shunyata alpha.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    I explored a few a while back here: https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/184270/three-way-usb-cable-shootout

    I upgraded from the AQ Carbon to the Audience AU24 SE+ and very happy with it.
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