2. pc-audio
  3. 186305-182356

Generic USB 2.0 cable vs. DH Labs USB?

Is there an audible difference using a high end USB cable from PC to DAC?  I'm thinking it shouldn't make any difference when transferring ones and zeros.  I stream Tidal and Qobuz.  I'm currently using Amazon, brand x, 5 meter.  Your opinions or experiences?

 

My system for context:

ARC Ref 6SE preamp

ARC Ref CD-9 DAC

ARC Ref 80SE amplifier

Quad ESL 2812 speakers

Transparent Audio speaker cable

Transparent Balanced XLR interconnects

savant19970
carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,602 posts
 

I like silver plated cables for digital. Audioquest has several flavors that have silver coating and you can choose based on how much you feel like you want to spent.  Always upgrade from generic.

Jerry

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arize84
57 posts
 

While I have not used DH Labs USB cable, I have used their coax and HDMI cable which were definitely better than previous cables I was using (which were not generic). My experience is that digital cables matter as much as (if not more) than speaker cables and interconnects.

jheppe815
64 posts
 

When I started in computer audio, I went from a very cheap USB (printer) cable (literally a cable included with a printer) to a modest $100 Wire World USB cable of similar length. I noticed more definition in the low frequencies as the largest improvement. It was $100 well spent in my opinion on my system.

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