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USB Cables: beginning the rabbit hole

Time to audition USB cables. I have always used the same cable a 2004 beauty that came with my Mac G4 in 2004, so this should be fun.

A few questions from the team here:

1. Best way to audition so that I can return what I don't like? I'm in the U.S.

2. What brands would you suggest. Budget is <$500 for 1m. I will audition 2-3 to start with. Curious Cables is one.

3. Is there break-in required? If so, what method and for how long?

I promise to report back my impressions here.

 

dvvilkins
jeffreyw's avatar
jeffreyw
298 posts
 

@dvvilkins 

I will save you a lot of time. The Inakustik Reference and Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 will fit your bill. You need to spend $3k to better them, and that will only be by a little bit. Been there and done that.

Best of luck!

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
2,021 posts
 

If you're streaming from your Mac, I'd upgrade the streamer before I upgraded the cable.  My one rule for digital cables of any kind-silver or silver plating.  don't confuse this with advice you've gotten about silver analog cables.

Jerry

sls883
644 posts
 

@jeffreyw That's good to know.  I bought an Inakustic Reference USB with my Innuos streamer.  I've not owned any other higher quality USB cables to compare. 

jaybe
774 posts
 

A $100 coax cable can beat a $1000 USB cable. I jumped off the USB wagon after spending thousands on cables. I strongly advise to find another way to get the signal into the DAC. Maybe a DDC.

tubeguy80
108 posts
 

That really depends on the transport (some only have USB, some have a bunch of options), the DAC (some have much better USB implementation than others), the coaxial cable, and the USB cable involved. Sometimes coaxial is the better choice and sometimes USB is.

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