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< $400 USB Cable Contenders Late 2021

Having reconfigured my digital stuff on my rack, I need to change my little USB jumper to a 0.7m-1m USB cable. Would love to buy used or demo to get more value, but open to new. Listening beforehand is an unlikely option. Some I'm considering are:
IN-AKUSTIK Reference USB
Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 
Cardas Clear HS
Curious (original not Evolved)

If I luck out on a good used deal, might be interested in:
Stealth USB
Final Touch Callisto
Curious Evolved

The cable will connect my Sonore opticalRendu to Denafrips Pontus. My priorities are full-bodied representation of instruments, transparency and natural tonality. Hyper amounts of edgy detail are not my cup of tea. FWIW I'm an electrostatic, analog guy for the most part. Cheers,

Spencer

128x128sbank
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thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
To the OP @sbank Spencer: I no longer use USB cables, but when I did, my favorites were these two:

1) Synergistic Atmosphere X Reference (about $1,000 retail): https://www.thecableco.com/cables/usb-cable/atmosphere-x-reference-usb-cable-8099.html

2) Sonore USB cable made to order by Cardas: https://sonore.us/USB.html
This is sleeper. Right below $1,000, but it sounds amazing. Not many in circulation, so it would be hard to find used.


antigrunge2
1,346 posts
 
Highly recommended: Intona Reference + Isolator
sbank's avatar
sbank OP
3,378 posts
 
@thyname Actually a good friend of mine who also has Sonore components like I do has the Sonore USB. It's gathering dust because he prefers one of the contenders on my list at ~1/3 the cost.

...and did you fail to notice from the title of the thread that the top end of my budget is ~$400? Cheers,
Spencer
sbank's avatar
sbank OP
3,378 posts
 
@antigrunge2, thanks for the suggestion. What have you compared it to? Any on my list? How would you characterize the Intona? Cheers,
Spencer
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