Best way to hook up Denafrips

I'm a skeptic as well about cables generally, but 100% believe that some cables sound better than others. The key is to listen to the cables in your own system and see if you hear a difference. I tested out 5 USB cables recently as I'm sorting out my digital front end and one of the cables was a free USB cable from an HP inkjet printer. Because, if "bits-are-bits", ALL cables should sound exactly the same. The other cables were:

• Generic HP printer cable: Free with printer
• Belkin Gold: $15
• Pangea Audio Premier SE: $50
• Shunyata Venom: $100-200
• Phasure Lush: $253

Well, that free HP printer cable sounded like crap. 

• Sound feels shut-in and veiled. Trailing edge of notes have an overhang.
• Treble is a bit harsh
• Bass sounds tubby

And I'm very happily running the Phasure Lush cable. None of the cable sounded the same as another.

Thank you very much

I just reread your post. The USB cables used for audio connections are USB 2.0 A/B cables. This means that have a type A connector (wide rectangular) that plugs into the source (where the signal is coming from) and a type B connector (square shape) that plugs into the device you are connecting to. 

With the Gaia and Terminator+, I got much better results using the i2s connection over an HDMI cable. Even a $12 HDMI cable sounded better than using the USB connection with my AQ Diamond USB (AQ's top of the line USB).

The Gaia and T+ support i2s over either HDMI or RJ45 (standard Ethernet cable). Most user feedback I've read indicates that using HDMI is preferred. 

I am using the USB cable to connect my server to the Gaia. 

I found that my Gaia and T+ sounded excellent with modest priced cables, but there were subtle improvements from higher-end cables. I am currently using an AQ Diamond USB to the Gaia and a Tubulus Argentus i2S cable between the Gaia and T+, with DH Labs D75 coax cables for the clock connections. 

But I would agree with the dealer that recommended spending the money on the power cables if your budget is limited. Even a $12 HDMI cable used for the i2s connection sounded very good. 

I've been very impressed with the DH Labs digital cables. For a fairly modest price, you could use their cables for all three (HDMI, USB, Coax) and I suspect you'd be very satisfied.

I'm not a member of the Science! police, but have seen no compelling evidence whatsoever supporting the claim that an expensive USB cable can be superior to a solid, low cost version.