2. digital
  3. 176069-151326

Good cost effective USB cables for digital audio please

Hello all, I am going to be trying a new streamer that has a USB digital output to drive my DAC, and would like some user recommendations and suggestions on cost effective (say, under $300, less even better) USB A-B cables. It was interesting to see the Absolute Sound having a $25 Belkin gold USB cable on their recommended list for some time HA!!

I’ve been using RCA digital 75 ohm cables (Canare) for some time and know that an ideal length is roughly 1.5 meters for good signal transfer.

Does this apply to USB cables carrying the digital signal to the DAC as well?

 

troidelover1499
blisshifi's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
blisshifi
1,183 posts
 

DH Labs Mirage USB is very, very good for the price. Very low jitter/noise, incredibly open with great dynamics and tonality. Kicks the daylights out of their Wireworld counterparts. I would not consider any other USB in its price range and bet nothing under $500 can beat it. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,924 posts
 

+1 on DH Labs Mirage. It beat the wireworld, analysis plus and basic “stock” USB cables 

barts's avatar
barts
713 posts
 

At the moment I'm using a no name cable from Nucleus+ to DAC so this thread is timely for me.

Can someone answer the question of optimum length?  Or please post the lengths that you are currently using.  Thanks.

Regards,

barts 

melm
1,075 posts
 

I recommended Audioquest Pearl.  It's a simple, well made solid core copper and very easy on the pocketbook.  If your DAC provides sufficiency in the high frequencies it will serve you very well.  If you need more in the highs, getting the AQ with some amount of silver coating might be better.

blisshifi's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
blisshifi
1,183 posts
 

@barts For USB I'd recommend no longer than 2M, but it's not as meticulous as it is with coax/75ohm cables that work best exactly at 1.5M. Anything from .5M-2M should work optimally. Longer isn't horrible either.

More to discover