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USB cables

In the March 2012 issue of Absolute Sound, Robert Harley raves about a $550/m USB cable that replaced his "excellent" $80 cable, but doesn't tell us what the $80 cable is. For those of us who are less absolute, that would have been an interesting disclosure.

As a new owner of a MacMini loaded with Pure Music, I'd like to know what USB cables are recommended. The MacMini will output USB to a Musical Fidelity V-Link that will in turn output SP/DIF to a Cary 11a.

db
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audioengr
3,282 posts
 
First, I would recommend a 1.5m cable, no shorter. There are technical reasons for this.

Second, I have found that not all manufacturers understand how to make a good USB cable. Some of the good ones are the $150 Kimber silver, the $250 Locus-Design Polestar and the more expensive Revelation Audio Labs, probably the best available. Mr. Harley has not heard many of the better cables out there IMO.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
I think R.H. was using the Audioquest Cinnamon USB cable. They advertise heavily in the Absolute Sound. I would recommend that you try the Carbon, or the Ridge Street Audio Poiema R-v3 USB Digital Master.
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
OMG. Multi-hundred dollar USB cables? Feed a US city instead.
timlub
2,042 posts
 
I am using Audioquest Cinnamon, I have only compared it to cheap cables, so I might not be the one to chime in, but it certainly has no glaring problems. I have read that both the Audioquest Carbon and the Kimber Silvers are great values...
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Like most digItal cables, the high-end is where the significant improvement comes. $400 is a good starting point IME.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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