USB Cable: Oyaide, Cardas, Shunyata....

Does the Cary DAC require power through the cable or data only?  That could make a difference in your selection of a cable.

Guess not. I found your prior post on this topic (FLAC vs WAV 1/21/16). Interesting.

I think maybe preferences could be system-dependent and person-specific.

ricred1 - I will audition a friend’s Platinum 2.0 next weekend and give you my impressions of it vs the Curious as an additional data point to jwm’s.

Dave

Hi jwm,

I have read that the Wireworld Platinum is excellent. Would you be so kind to elaborate on the areas where you find it superior to the Curious?

Dave

wireworld is better I tried them both.

I have Wireworld Platinum. I'm curious about trying the Curious USB cable. Has anyone compared them to each other?

+1 ~ "USB is not the best interface for audio"

Good recommendations here on Venom and Curious cables. If you’re not planning on replacing mini, I would look at Schitt’s Wyrd Decrapifier. It simply works in eliminating the inherit noise and glitches. They also offer 15 days in home trial.

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/09/schiit-wyrd-usb-decrapifier-review/

I am using Wyrd along with Wireworld Platinum and very happy with the sound. To my ears, WW Platinum is bit more natural sounding compared to few others I have tried but it is pricey.

I had the Venom USB and recently upgraded to the Curious.  The Curious is better. However, I enjoyed the Venom and still think that it is a great cable, much better than its price might indicate.

Dave

$200 budget... what is the cheapest LPS for a mac mini??

I second the Curious cable. Keep it as short as you can
Alan

Look for a used Curious USB Cable.  Very nice sounding cable and reasonable prices.

 I use a Shunyata Venom in my system and it is very good. I think the Wireworld is better but more money. I also thought about one of the higher end Audioquest. But in the end I think that the Shunyata is probably the best for anywhere near the money. USB is not the best interface for audio. I would rather invest in an all in one unit like an  Aurender or the Bluesound Vault 2 .

what did Cary say when you called them?

why not look at the products that Uptone Audio makes?  (no affiliation)

any cable should be about the same - an exception could possibly be Lush but they are not common in the US and it is unclear what they claim to be doing that others aren't