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USB Cables: beginning the rabbit hole

Time to audition USB cables. I have always used the same cable a 2004 beauty that came with my Mac G4 in 2004, so this should be fun.

A few questions from the team here:

1. Best way to audition so that I can return what I don't like? I'm in the U.S.

2. What brands would you suggest. Budget is <$500 for 1m. I will audition 2-3 to start with. Curious Cables is one.

3. Is there break-in required? If so, what method and for how long?

I promise to report back my impressions here.

 

dvvilkins
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,117 posts
 

My own journey proved to me that I upgraded cables too early. There's a good discussion here with a top guy at Benchmark about the order in which to upgrade components and the degree to which upgrades are likely to help. Cables are dead last and almost not worth thinking about given that most people have not optimized much more impactful parts of their system. FWIW. Here's the discussion.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,439 posts
 

@dvvilkins can you list your digital components that you would be connecting with this new USB cable?

jeffreyw's avatar
jeffreyw
286 posts
 

@dvvilkins 

I will save you a lot of time. The Inakustik Reference and Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 will fit your bill. You need to spend $3k to better them, and that will only be by a little bit. Been there and done that.

Best of luck!

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,902 posts
 

If you're streaming from your Mac, I'd upgrade the streamer before I upgraded the cable.  My one rule for digital cables of any kind-silver or silver plating.  don't confuse this with advice you've gotten about silver analog cables.

Jerry

sls883
554 posts
 

@jeffreyw That's good to know.  I bought an Inakustic Reference USB with my Innuos streamer.  I've not owned any other higher quality USB cables to compare. 

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