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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
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,638 posts
 
Fàak fàak fàak.
Ha ja ha
sdl4
217 posts
 
@sbank,

I have been able to directly compare only two of the USB cables on your list. I use mostly Shunyata power cables and Cardas analog signal cables. I am now using two USB cables: Shunyata Alpha (going from Innuos Zen server to Innuos Phoenix USB reclocker) and Network Acoustics USB III (from Phoenix to PS Audio DirectStream DAC).

When I compared several USB cables 8 months ago, I thought that the Cardas Clear HS sounded rich and smooth, but this was at the cost of some transients seeming smoothed over and a loss of detail compared to the other cables in my comparison. I also heard the Stealth USB (which is on your list of possible "used" options), which was very open and transparent, but sounded a bit "edgy" at times.

My favorite cables in the comparison I did were the Shunyata Alpha and the Audience AU24 SE+. If you can find either one of those cables used, it may get you closer to your preferred cost cut-off.

If you are willing to sacrifice some detail to achieve a rich full-bodied sound that emphasizes smoothness without edginess, then the Cardas Clear HS may meet your needs.  
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,443 posts
 
Bump it up a bit and pick up a used Audience AU24SE+. You won’t regret it. 
antigrunge2
1,462 posts
 
Direct comparison with Supra, Acoustic Revive, Oyaide Continental 5S silver and Artisansilvercables, both single and double 5V. Immediacy, leading edge, reverb and soundstage all outstanding. Intona selects individual cables on maximum conformity with USB specs in terms of impedance and resistance. Galvanic isolation through Isolator leads to significant blacking of background as well as reduction of sibilance. The Intona cable outclassed the others, not by a small margin. I am a happy customer, no other association
sbank's avatar
sbank OP
3,381 posts
 
@thyname I apologize and did not intent to offend you. My experience hasn't allowed me to typically find used deals at 40% of MSRP. So I mistakenly jumped to the wrong conclusion and regret my post. I value your input and am here to make friends and learn; not the other stuff.  Cheers,

Spencer
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