Interconnect or USB cable


which of these two would ya'll replace first?   these would be for my DAC and trying to figure out which would affect the SQ the most

radiomanjh

I always start by replacing things first as far upstream as possible first. It doesn't do much good if you have $30K speakers you brought in 2020 and use a Radio Shack receiver from 1974, you're not going to get the full use of those speakers. This is an opinion, yours may vary.

So start at the source and work your way to the speakers. I assume that means for you the USB first, then the interconnect.

Unfortunately, it just depends on your components and system. I have had analog, digital, USB, or power cord make a huge difference… or not. I typically I do speaker cable first, then interconnects, amp power cords next, and finally USB, My dealer /friend says the biggest difference he has heard was with a USB. But for me it was a digital coax first, interconnects, amp power cord. But it just depends.

 

What equipment do you have?

great point audphile1, thanks. here's my system:

Primare i30 integrated amp, Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2EX speakers, Rythmik L12 subwoofer, Triode Labs American speaker cables, Audio Envy Studio Prestige Interconnects and Power cords, Acoustic BBQ Full Rack USB cable, Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC