Does the Quality of the USB cable matter?

Let’s set the record straight here. For your use case, this is the signal flow:

External drive --> USB --> Laptop

Laptop --> Ethernet --> Squeezebox


With this specific setup, the USB cable will make zero difference. This is why. Communication between your laptop and the external drive attached via USB will result in bit perfect transfers to the laptop _EVERY_ time due to the error correction built into the protocol used to transfer data to/from the PC and USB mass storage devices. The data is then sent from your laptop to the Squeezebox using a standard networking protocol (either TCP or UDP as I’m not sure which the Squeezebox uses). TCP has error correction built in. If the data sent from the sender to the receiver does not match the checksum, it is resent. This is GUARANTEED because of the TCP protocol. The Squeezebox then buffers the data in local memory and then processes it for output. Because of the communication protocols in use between your devices, you are guaranteed bit perfect delivery to the Squeezebox. What happens from there is a matter of exactly how the software on the Squeezebox has been programmed to handle the data it has locally buffered.

USB cables only make a difference when the signal path is directly from source to processing device (e.g. PC USB output to DAC USB input). This is because the transfer of data over USB for audio purposes does not utilize any error correction. Zero, zip, zilch, none, nada. Errors in signal transmission are never corrected because there’s nothing built into the ’protocol’ to perform the necessary operations to achieve error correction.

jeenam,

Actually today I am using the usb cable from my Bryston BDP-2 to a PS Audio Direct Stream Dac. So to me the usb cable matters.

Also, I just tried a iFi usb purifier #2 along with some AQ jitterbugs. And in both cases the soundstage shrunk dramatically. The phrase "its only as good as its weakest link" applies. The Acoustic BBQ usb is better on its own without any addons. That is within my system, my ears etc.

ozzy

Hey Ozzy have you seen that PS Audio has new firmware for their Directstream DAC called Snowmass . If you haven't already got it I urge you to get it as it brings the player to another level. I find that the levels of detail have improved and a definite improvement in the bass in fact so much that a download that I love is now giving me levels of detail that can be most annoying. I have played this file and never once noticed a very noisy pedal on the piano in fact that is what my ear goes straight to all the time. The new firmware also makes the whole sound seem a wee bit warmer than usual but in a really good way so for someone who hasn't got valves it can warm up your system.

Ozzy,

For your current setup, yes, the USB cable does matter. This is because you're directly connecting your source device (Bryston BDP-2) to the processing device (PS Audio Direct Stream DAC). As mentioned in my previous message, there is no error correction of the signal transmitted via the USB cable for that usage scenario.

Because of the error checking/correction functionality of the USB mass storage protocol, it doesn't matter what USB cable you use to connect your external storage drive to your laptop. It only matters in the scenario above.

This is an excellent article for understanding why USB cables make a difference when used for audio purposes directly between source and processing equipment:

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/why-usb-cables-can-make-a-difference/

jim204,

Yes, I posted a message about the new PS "Snowmass" firmware upgrade in the Digital section. In short, it is a very awesome upgrade.

jeenam,

Thanks for info.