USB Cable

“I am curious how many of these people used a fibre optic cable for the final feet just before the DAC.”

@yyzsantabarbara 

I honestly do not know, you can start a new thread and conduct a poll. Million dollar or inexpensive music streamer/server…they all have a processor at heart. The premise here is, a general purpose PC is not optimized or optimal for audio streaming. You can add fiber or filters as alluded by @antigrunge2 ahead of a DAC to reduce noise but a general purpose PC will never sound as good as dedicated streamer designed specifically to stream audio. Fortunately, there are plenty of decent choices out there at all price points. 

Forget USB cable. Get a streamer instead. PC doesn’t compete with a dedicated streamer. But if you insist on a cable, the Mirage is very good for the money. 

mrskeptic needs to join the circus-

When I decided to get back into Hifi, I bought a DAC-it. While hooking it up I realized the DAC did not come with a cable, so I ran to the local Micro Center and bought a $15.00 USB printer cable. It was the most God awful thing I ever heard. Luckily there was a Home stereo/Car Audio shop that sold Audioquest. 

In highly resolving horn systems almost every change you make has an audible difference.

The ones and zeros crowd really need to give it a rest. (maybe more hifi experience or a trip to the audiologist)

OP,

You've got enough recommendations to add a dedicated streamer, so I'll echo that.....your system deserves a component in the same league......base recommendation would be an Aurender N200. Entry level cable would be a Supra Excalibur for about $140. From there DHLabs, Zavfino, Cullen Cables, Lavri Cables, etc.

@soix   Yes, the vast mojoriity know you've got it right.  TVgeek is joining the ranks of jason bourne; nobody needs to hear them repeat the same controverial comments on every thread just begging for attention.