USB Cable

@soix

+1 Very true. PCs cannot compete.

I played with PCs for a number of years. I used different software, striped down the background jobs, Changed cables, added noice reduction… did the same on a MAC, ran it on batteries. Still my first stand alone streamer was completely blew away the PCs… the noise floor dropped precipitously, the treble improved enormously, imaging vastly increases… etc.

If you are using very inexpensive audio gear that itself is very noisy and low fidelity… then there may not be a difference. But as soon as you have a good system, there is no comparison. I am sure this line varies from system to system.

“I am curious how many of these people used a fibre optic cable for the final feet just before the DAC.”

@yyzsantabarbara 

I honestly do not know, you can start a new thread and conduct a poll. Million dollar or inexpensive music streamer/server…they all have a processor at heart. The premise here is, a general purpose PC is not optimized or optimal for audio streaming. You can add fiber or filters as alluded by @antigrunge2 ahead of a DAC to reduce noise but a general purpose PC will never sound as good as dedicated streamer designed specifically to stream audio. Fortunately, there are plenty of decent choices out there at all price points. 

Forget USB cable. Get a streamer instead. PC doesn’t compete with a dedicated streamer. But if you insist on a cable, the Mirage is very good for the money. 

mrskeptic needs to join the circus-

When I decided to get back into Hifi, I bought a DAC-it. While hooking it up I realized the DAC did not come with a cable, so I ran to the local Micro Center and bought a $15.00 USB printer cable. It was the most God awful thing I ever heard. Luckily there was a Home stereo/Car Audio shop that sold Audioquest. 

In highly resolving horn systems almost every change you make has an audible difference.

The ones and zeros crowd really need to give it a rest. (maybe more hifi experience or a trip to the audiologist)

OP,

You've got enough recommendations to add a dedicated streamer, so I'll echo that.....your system deserves a component in the same league......base recommendation would be an Aurender N200. Entry level cable would be a Supra Excalibur for about $140. From there DHLabs, Zavfino, Cullen Cables, Lavri Cables, etc.