What USB cable to get?

Two excellent low cost solid core cables:

AudioQuest Pearl USB Cable

Monoprice Monolith USB Cable (Don't laugh when you see the price; scroll down and see how well it is made.)

calvinandhobbes, have had the same Pangea for years now and just received a DH Labs Mirage USB cable. Didn't really know what to expect with a digital cable upgrade (just ones and zeros and all that). The difference is startling and it does make the Pangea sound harsh. This is between my N100h and a Qutest. Got it on sale for $150 this week. Just wow, don't understand how, but it sounds much better.

I think I'm finally starting to understand what real analog sounds like. 

@treynolds155

Congratulations. Yes, makes liitle sense, but it can make a big difference. My first huge cable difference between transport and DAC some 35 years ago. I was convinced it could not possibly make a difference. It was as if someone took the components out and replaced them with ones twice as good. My jaw dropped. Usually changes are more subtle… but huge differences can occur.

Probably also helpful you knew the sound of your system really well… instead of a new component. That is why it is best to upgrade and break in your components and learn what they sound like before embarking on interconnects and cables.

@ghdprentice 

I think we have similar setups: Wifi router > wireless bridge > Aurender. But you have an ethernet regenerator in place before the Aurender? I was assuming that the conversion (regeneration) to wifi would be adequate. I'll also assume you see an improvement if it's in place, can you please elaborate?

Thanks...Tim 

@treynolds155

Yes, my system is WiFi router —> by WiFi —> wall wart extender —> Ethernet cable —> EtherRegen —> via Ethernet cable —> Aurender (W20SE). This is embarrassing.

I asked my audio guy to let me try one… he brought it over when he was delivering some really expensive piece of audio gear… I just said… yeah, throw in the EtherReg… I mean it cost nothing in comparison with the tax on a component. I had done a lot of research on the EtherRegen and some much more sophisticated devices, in all cases they produced a benefit.

So, what did I hear? Well, maybe a small improvement… maybe nothing. But I had just swapped out amps… a BIG difference.

My take is this: The quality of the streamer largely determines the quality of the sound. It makes up for all sorts of deficiencies in networking. So if you have a low end streamer, then an EtherRegen can make a big difference… if you have a high end streamer it will make a really small difference. The streamer does the job for you. This is a theory… unsubstantiated by detailed data that I collected (I was a scientist for 10 years). I have been enjoying my system so much for the last year and a half that I have been too lazy to go unplug it… try my streamer without it… then plug it back in. Maybe this will motivate me to try it. Maybe not.

I guess I should. There are lots of folks on the forum that have taken one of two ways of achieving great quality of streaming: 1) screw around with the network… high end routers… clockers… etc. and 2) get a high end streamer. As an aside I have been in IT for the last 35 years mostly a Director of IT in global high tech companies… so I am not ignorant on networking. On the other hand… I am retired, I do not want to waste my time playing with networking. My feeling is that get a high end streamer… maybe a EtherRegen… and don’t play around with the network… unless that makes you happy. Personally after 70 - 80 hours of technical stuff for 45 years, I like just plugging something in and hearing incredibly beautiful music.