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I've never believed much in cables, that said... (USB)

So, in 30+ years of being an audio geek of sorts I've never believed much in cables.  I've always felt once it's a decent gauge and quality (think basic Mogami XLR's and Canare 4s11 speaker) that they don't make much of a difference.  I do try occasionally and try to read the science to see if it makes sense.  

Over the years there have been a couple cables I thought MIGHT have been different (not better or worse, but different).

1.  Gregg Straley Reality cables - these are a solid core and I believe he cryo's them.  I felt the speaker cables MIGHT have brightened things up a bit.  60/40 on if they did, but I'm pretty sure they did.

2.  PS Audio AC3 power cables on my amp.  I inherited this cable with a used amp purchase so said what the hell, I'll try it.  Don't think it did a thing on the pre-amp.  But, with two different amps, I THINK it opened up the soundstage a bit.  Reading about it, I think that the whole highs/lows shapes of cables doesn't make a lot of sense.  But I did think it might make a big enough difference.  For what I essentially paid for it - I kept it and use it.  If anything it looks cool and does stay in the outlet with a vice like grip.  


That said.

Just got my first outboard DAC (oppo sonica) and started with a cheap USB cable then tried an audioquest cinnamon, clearly a difference to me.  I was shocked (and bummed in some ways). But it was obvious, so I tried an audioquest carbon - and yes, again I'm pretty darn sure I heard a difference and it was better.  Everything did have more separation and clarity without being brighter (which is what I thought speaker cables might have done).  This was clear.  It still makes little sense to me (0's and 1's).  I've tried to look at tests like at ASR... but man it's the first time I really felt I can hear a difference.  

Might try the PS audio power cord on the dac, but that means changing on the amp... so not sure if it would be fair or not!
dep14
andy2
1,586 posts
 
ower cords also baffle me as to why they would make a difference after miles in the walls... 
If one uses "water" analogy, one might think so, but electricity is not water and how electric current flows sometimes can be counter-intuitive.

For example, one would think the bottle neck is the tiny little fuse in the amp, but obviously it's not.  
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Congratulations on discovering (Frustrating, isn't it, to learn that the supposed authorities are wrong, and you believed them!) how important cables are in a rig. You've only begun to find out HOW important.  :)

BTW, aftermarket fuses are also efficacious, as I have compared them. :)

Every wire, every location. Take nothing for granted. 
andy2
1,586 posts
 
One of the differences (among many) between water and electricity is that before turning on the faucet in your kitchen, the kitchen does not have any water in the first place.  But with electricity, even before you turn on the switch of the amp, the amp internally already has a bunch of electrons just waiting to get moving.

So intuitively, you think if the tiny fuse is the bottle neck because all the electrons have to be "squeezed" through such a tiny space, so why then adding a big fat power cable would make a difference?

One possible explanation is that electrons are so small so there are so many more of them than needed even through the tiny fuse.  Another thing that helps is that the physical length of the fuse is very short so the electrons would just shoot through it without having any noticeble resistance or phase shift.  Now if you increase the length of the fuse to say a "foot" then may be that could cause some problem.

The other explanation is the potential of the electrons in the fuse is at 120V they have a bit more juice before down converted through the transformer.



rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
I used to build Curious Cables on the Gold Coast in sunny Queensland Australia (as an employee). If you use annealed silver off the reel the correct direction as the data signal wire and use (hope nobody gets offended) wire that was unused for USAF for fighter aircraft wiring (how it made it's way to Australia is mind boggling). And a guy designing it, with well over three decades hi-fi experience.. you can make a pretty decent USB cable.
That you can request to have the power with a disconnect plug inline on the external power supply lead if you so choose.

Yes USB cables as do other cables can make a substantial difference.
I use Lenehan Audio Ribbonflex interconnects and speaker cables, and they make a difference!
Soon I will try Wegrzyn cables from Arizona, I've been reading good things about them.

inna
7,923 posts
 
I just put $400 WyWires Silver Series USB cable between computer and Burson dac and think no more of this.
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