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USB Cable Comparison Audience / Cardas / Purist / Stealth / Wireworld

I've been meaning to share my findings and impressions from a recent six cable comparison of USB cables.

What follows is a 'work in progress draft' that I will be finalizing and posting on a blogging site.

Getting this posted is a way of lighting a fire under myself so I get the write-up finalized. And to keep my promise to share my findings with a number of Audiogoners.

What is posted is the first phase of the 'shoot-out' involving four cables.

Please note:

- This is not finalized and I will be making edits, and adding information, etc.

- This is the first phase of the comparison.

- The second phase will be posted soon.
david_ten
Post removed 
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
I agree with dlcockrum about USB cables making a difference if the DAC is not able to fully reject noise, jitter and other parasitic extraneous factors. The rest of his post is close-minded nonsense reflecting a lack of knowledge about digital signals.
c_avila1
185 posts
 
I use an inexpensive Chinese tube DAC and added a pair of 3uf Aura-T Teflon output coupling caps. I thought it was decent before the mod but it's quite a performer now and very revealing of the upstream signal.

My PC PS thread is for you daring DIYers if you really want to improve your computer sound. There are several pictures. Check it out:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/computer-ps-upgrade-fuse-iec-teflon-cap

Regarding the OP: I A/B tested the Stealth USB-T vs the SR Galileo LE. The Galileo USB cable projected an exaggerated 3D soundstage. I felt that it was exaggerated because my system is already capable of a 3D stage. The SR cable made it a bit too 3D for my liking. The Stealth USB-T provided much better synergy for my set up. It performs well in all aspects for a "non active" cable. Another issue that I disliked about the SR cable is that it requires a power source for it's active shielding system. It adds to the rats nest behind my rig and those tuning bullets get hot as hell. The SR cable starts at $2k but it can do wonders for a system that lacks in 3D imaging. 
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Reasoning vs listening, shadorne. Try listening for a change, you might learn something.

Dave
david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 

A Continuation of the USB Cable Comparison Audience / Purist / Stealth / Wireworld


NOTE: Please refer to my first two full posts for the detailed information that preceeds this and the next post.


PHASE 2.0


Mistakes can be wonderful. Rare, but it happens. It’s a story for another time. Short version: I was shipped a Sonore Signature Rendu SE (SR) without ordering or paying for it. Audiophile lottery, right?

After letting Sonore know and getting their okay to give the SR a listen, I did. And it stayed.

The day -- the Signature Rendu SE paired with the Wireworld (WW) cable went into my system -- turned into night and continued through the following morning. I did not sleep that night.

The entire system came together with such impact that the SR has not moved since that day.

I was also lucky with the timing of the shipment error. The SR was delivered a day after I had wrapped up the first cable comparison and the day the cables were to be shipped back. I extended the cable loan so I could evaluate the cables, the WW primarily, since it was the first place finisher, with the Signature Rendu SE.

Being able to learn so much about these cables, my system, and overall system performance from Phase 1 with the ultraRendu (uR) was fortuitous, timely and extremely valuable for the next round of cable comparisons.


Bottom line for me, with the SR in system and with a few days of run time on it, I still preferred the Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 to the Audience Au24 SE-Plus.


The system sounded significantly better across the board with both cables, but the WW, to my ears presented musical information more correctly and with more: weight, air, detail, realism, and musicality than the "slightly less so" of the Audience. I preferred voice and stringed bass with the Audience (slightly fuller/rounder/forward than the WW) though when reflected upon, the WW sounds more accurate to my ears.

The Audience provided slightly less information and detail especially at the frequency extremes, sound stage presentation was slightly weaker than, and high frequencies were not as ’real’ sounding as the WW.

If I broadly summarize, I preferred the Audience slightly in the mid-range and upper bass, but prefer the Wireworld as a whole across the frequency range and for it’s coherence across the same (no overtly highlighted nor minimized sections). The previous strengths of the Wireworld, listed in the Phase 1 comparison, continued to shine through.

In other words, the first phase attributes / signature remained intact for both cables. [Please refer back to that post] [Also Note: With the SR in system, the WW lost the ’leanness’ and ’brightness’ and ’slight fatigue’ on certain recordings it exhibited with the uR].


Though the differences are slight, they were apparent to my ears and my musical enjoyment and most certainly worth it for me. In this case, from a cable that lists for less and is available for significantly less (street price) due to the common discounts. Again, no wrong choices here. System, system synergy and your preferences and music genres are all important in making the choice for yourself.

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