Cardas Clear or AudioQuest Carbon USB cable

I don't recall buying it, but my Cardas Clear USB is a single cable about 18" long.  It's in a setup comprised of USB form Mac Mini to Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC to Ayre KX-5xeMP preamp to a pair of Parasound JC 1 amps driving KEF LS50s augmented by a pair of KEF KC62 subs.  The setup sounds very good even with large orchestrations.

You can upgrade to the better Cardas Clear USB cable. Here is the link: http://www.cardas.com/clear_hs_usb.php

dbphd

Have you ever connected the QB-9 DSD to your C5xe cd player?

If so, did the player out perform your DX-5 DSD universal?

Happy Listening!

jafant

I haven't, but it would be easy to do.  The QB-6 DSD receives USB from the Mini for Roon, but it sits atop the C-5xeMP so would be easy to connect. The DX-5 DSD is in a different setup with 5-Twenty preamp and amp and KEF Reference 1s rather than LS50s, so comparison is not easy,  The C-5xeMP is what got me hooked on Ayre.

Definitely Cardas Clear. I've had both in my system and the Cardas USB is clearly (no pun intended) superior. Warmer yet more detailed.