I found an Audioquest forest on Amazon for 35 bucks. Any opinions?
Although I haven't tested USB cables between HD and player/computer, I have found noticeable differences in USB cables between player and DAC. A few of the head-to-head comparisons were blind tested. I would rank the ones I've tried in this order (cable, $ paid mostly used):
WW Starlight 7 Platinum, $360
Curious Cable $120
DH Labs Silver Sonic Mirage $94
WW Starlight Silver $200
WW Starlight Red $49
WW UV (purple) $56
AQ Carbon $50
AQ Forest $35
Freebies $0
Den: Rega RP6 * AT33PTGII * Budgie SUT * Jolida jd9 * Roon (Sonic Transporter) * PS Audio DirectStream Jr. * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Sunfire Signature II * PSAudio Power Plant 3 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2 Office: Roon * Sonore UltraRendu (LPS-1, WW Plat7, Iso Regen, Lush) * ProJect Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * PSA Dectet * DH Labs Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 Beach: Music Hall MMF5.1se * Speed Box II * DL103r * Lounge Copla/LCRIII * W4S Sonos * Schiit Yggdrasil * Belles 20a Pre * First Watt F5 Clone * PSA Dectet * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl
vcwatkins was there really much difference between the Forrest and the Freebies? Since you ranked it so low I probably won't hear much of a difference. Plus It will spend most of its time on the Oppo and occasionally on the Auralic Mini it is probably better to squeeze out a lot more nickels and go with Wireworld but they one have one USB 3.0 option
Well, my first one to try was the Wireworld UV. BIG improvement over the freebies. Couldn't believe it. Slowly moved up (or sideways) after that. Probably should have skipped a few of those steps. Live and learn...
I really like the WW Starlight Red. It's what I use for USB 2.0 A-MiniB from PC to Meridian Explorer2 DAC for MQA testing. Good value IMO, especially used. @DSkip might have a good deal on a 3.0.
I never tried AQ Forest then switched back to cheapie, so not much help there. Also, these are all 2.0 between player and DAC (except for one phono pre ADC to PC).
If I get a chance this weekend, I'll try one between a USB HD and PC. You've got me wondering if it might help.
Den: Rega RP6 * AT33PTGII * Budgie SUT * Jolida jd9 * Roon (Sonic Transporter) * PS Audio DirectStream Jr. * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Sunfire Signature II * PSAudio Power Plant 3 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2 Office: Roon * Sonore UltraRendu (LPS-1, WW Plat7, Iso Regen, Lush) * ProJect Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * PSA Dectet * DH Labs Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 Beach: Music Hall MMF5.1se * Speed Box II * DL103r * Lounge Copla/LCRIII * W4S Sonos * Schiit Yggdrasil * Belles 20a Pre * First Watt F5 Clone * PSA Dectet * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl
Thanks for the advice from all of yooz, I am gonna hold off and get it together for the Wireworld. I am hoping to squeeze a little more out of the Oppo since it is in the system that I use the most if not I will use it with the other system.
On a side note: A word to the wise, always buy cheap crap and be disappointed I could possibly slow you down. Get good stuff and all you want is more.
Thanks for the advice from all of yooz, I am gonna hold off and get it together for the Wireworld. I am hoping to squeeze a little more out of the Oppo since it is in the system that I use the most if not I will use it with the other system.
On a side note: A word to the wise, always buy cheap crap and be disappointed I could possibly slow you down. Get good stuff and all you want is more.
Easier, don't post questions, forum members like to spend other peoples money
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
I haven't had any spendy USB 3 cables. but with a Silicon Image SSD and a Belkin $14 USB 3.1 I'm maxing out a 24GB .vhdx transfer at 325MB/s. So I'm hitting the limit of my SSD.
Comments
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.
Although I haven't tested USB cables between HD and player/computer, I have found noticeable differences in USB cables between player and DAC. A few of the head-to-head comparisons were blind tested. I would rank the ones I've tried in this order (cable, $ paid mostly used):
WW Starlight 7 Platinum, $360
Curious Cable $120
DH Labs Silver Sonic Mirage $94
WW Starlight Silver $200
WW Starlight Red $49
WW UV (purple) $56
AQ Carbon $50
AQ Forest $35
Freebies $0
Office: Roon * Sonore UltraRendu (LPS-1, WW Plat7, Iso Regen, Lush) * ProJect Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * PSA Dectet * DH Labs Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354
Beach: Music Hall MMF5.1se * Speed Box II * DL103r * Lounge Copla/LCRIII * W4S Sonos * Schiit Yggdrasil * Belles 20a Pre * First Watt F5 Clone * PSA Dectet * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl
https://store.wireworldcable.com/collections/usb-audio-cables/products/starlight-7-usb-3-0-audio-cables?variant=950479731
I really like the WW Starlight Red. It's what I use for USB 2.0 A-MiniB from PC to Meridian Explorer2 DAC for MQA testing. Good value IMO, especially used. @DSkip might have a good deal on a 3.0.
I never tried AQ Forest then switched back to cheapie, so not much help there. Also, these are all 2.0 between player and DAC (except for one phono pre ADC to PC).
If I get a chance this weekend, I'll try one between a USB HD and PC. You've got me wondering if it might help.
Office: Roon * Sonore UltraRendu (LPS-1, WW Plat7, Iso Regen, Lush) * ProJect Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * PSA Dectet * DH Labs Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354
Beach: Music Hall MMF5.1se * Speed Box II * DL103r * Lounge Copla/LCRIII * W4S Sonos * Schiit Yggdrasil * Belles 20a Pre * First Watt F5 Clone * PSA Dectet * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl
Speakers: Harbeth: 30.2, SHL5+; Usher: Be-10, T-515; Rosso Fiorentino: Elba, Pienza, Certaldo, Fiesole, Volterra; Polk: T50, Signature S15, RTA 15tl, RTi12; Sonner Audio Allegro Unum, Legato Unum, Legato Semis, Legato Duo; Emerald Physics CS-2.8; Klipsch KLF-20
Preamps: Shuguang S200MK, Dayens Ampino, Parasound P5
Amps: Shuguang S845MK, Dayens Ampino Monoblocks, Parasound A23
Integrateds: Triode Corporation TRV-88SER, MastersounD: BoX, Dueventi, Compact 845, Evolution 845; North Star Design Blue Diamond
Sources: AURALiC Aries, Denon HEOS Link, North Star Design: Magnifico, Supremo, Incanto, Intenso, Venti
Cabling: Wireworld
TV: Sony XBR-75X940C
On a side note: A word to the wise, always buy cheap crap and be disappointed I could possibly slow you down. Get good stuff and all you want is more.
Easier, don't post questions, forum members like to spend other peoples money
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
Speakers: Harbeth: 30.2, SHL5+; Usher: Be-10, T-515; Rosso Fiorentino: Elba, Pienza, Certaldo, Fiesole, Volterra; Polk: T50, Signature S15, RTA 15tl, RTi12; Sonner Audio Allegro Unum, Legato Unum, Legato Semis, Legato Duo; Emerald Physics CS-2.8; Klipsch KLF-20
Preamps: Shuguang S200MK, Dayens Ampino, Parasound P5
Amps: Shuguang S845MK, Dayens Ampino Monoblocks, Parasound A23
Integrateds: Triode Corporation TRV-88SER, MastersounD: BoX, Dueventi, Compact 845, Evolution 845; North Star Design Blue Diamond
Sources: AURALiC Aries, Denon HEOS Link, North Star Design: Magnifico, Supremo, Incanto, Intenso, Venti
Cabling: Wireworld
TV: Sony XBR-75X940C
"I want to try a decent (inexpensive) USB cable for a portable HD"
Boy, how did I ever get that wrong.