USB Cable

Wow someone is up on their soapbox, I asked a question, I am here to learn.

Though the focus is on PC and I will not use a PC in my audio chain as they lack shielding and introduce noise. I like a well built cable as opposed to the cheap crap from Amazon. 

Can there be an audible difference with proper implementation. I do think so and this will be more evident in well engineered higher end equipment not the stuff from AMZ or AEX.  Not saying anyone is wrong just that your mileage may vary. 

Yes I did a little research (alibet very little) and lot's of cutting and pasting.  Enjoy there is some really good information here in my opinion and supports some of the posting in this subject. 

Now to @tvrgeek point these people point out here:  EDN (2012).

Here in this article EDN claims that Colcking is the major hurdle for quality audio over USB:

https://www.edn.com/select-your-usb-audio-mcu-with-care-scary-stories-from-the-test-bench/

https://www.edn.com/usb-audio-simplified/

USB is a versatile interface that provides many ways to propagate and control digital audio; however, it is important for the industry to follow a standardized mechanism for transporting audio over USB to secure interoperability, which has been the cornerstone for the adoption of USB. To respond to this fundamental request, the USB organization has developed the Audio Devices Class, which defines a very robust standardized mechanism for transporting audio over USB. The USB audio class specification is available to the public from the USB Implementers Forum (www.usb.org).

One of the major issues with streaming audio over USB is the synchronization of data streams from the host (source) to the device (sink); this has been addressed by developing a robust synchronization scheme on “isochronous transfers,” which has been incorporated into the USB specification.

https://www.edn.com/can-you-hear-the-difference/

Now, I can understand not buying the cheapest of USB cables, but I'd do that for reliability, not audio quality.

Don't fool yourself. Paying $695 for a USB cable will not get you better audio. You will get the same audio quality from a $6.95 cable. The audio quality is a function of the original encoding, the decoding, the analog signal processing and amplifier, and the speaker. Go ahead, prove me wrong. Get yourself a top-of-the-line audio analyzer and show me the difference in audio quality between cables that carry digital signals.

Take a look at the linked page above. Be sure to read the comments over there as well, and then tell us what you think.

https://www.edn.com/fundamentals-of-usb-audio/

Found this and calls out some hardware limitations in Audio/Music transmissions (2013) and that clocking can be the issue?

https://www.edn.com/usb-audio-asynchronous-is-the-only-choice-for-compromise-free-audio/

“…understanding of audio may have passed the current generation of microcontroller suppliers by, resulting in a generally rather poor standard of audio replay. This may be down to a tendency for pure-play MCU companies to treat audio as just another data interface format… Some of the methods proposed and implemented for generating the audio master clock… have no place in a high-quality audio product”

On one thing, however, we do see eye to eye: the article concludes with the advice 'look for a vendor team that clearly knows what it's doing in the audio field.' With that, we couldn't agree more!

tvrgeek

I try to present facts so people can make up their own mind. If you have any actual evidence other than "You believe", please present it.

You consistently reject all evidence that does not suit your measurementalist’s notion of how things should work. Pretending that you sincerely seek evidence is not likely to fool many here.

@tvrgeek, you revealed quite a bit about yourself with this proclamation of yours:

Your BRAIN has re-mapped to convince you it is better. Our brain lies. Always. Humans are never objective.

As you acknowledge, it appears that your brain lies and that, indeed, it may have become "remapped." Fortunately, most of the rest of us can still think for ourselves.

Hmmm... tvrgeek adimits he’s never objective, that his brain always lies, and that it has remapped reality. Would a mandatory 72 hour observation period be required?

All the best,
Nonoise

I suggest some believers in magic here do a little reading on human objectivity, or lack there-of.   More productive than snide insulting remarks.  Human senses are not and never have been objective. This is why first person witness is the lowest form of legal evidence. We hear and see what we want to see.  

Look at dates of publications. USB mode ONE is not Mode TWO.  DAC's from 2013 are not the same as even the cheapest today. Much has been learned, much has been applied.  Clocking WAS a problem as it was host based. It is not now.  NOPE, GONE.  Noise injected by ground, shield or 5V can now be totally eliminated. Cheap. 

I do not sell either cheap or expensive cables. I am not trying to defend my ego for being scammed.  I am not a total measurement is all. I do listen. But I also understand how these transfer layers work and only which to help those who do not have the technical background. They don't teach digital communications in medical or business school.  Seems they no longer teach logical thinking and arguments either. 

tvrgeek

I suggest some believers in magic here do a little reading on human objectivity ...

Perhaps you should take your own advice, because you seem to be one of the greatest believers in magic on all of A’gon. You find it here and there and yonder, fortified with pixie dust and measurementalism and seasoned with snake oil. It has the ability to remap your brain, the way you tell it.

Our brain lies. Always.