RW - yeah well, it certainly would be nice if it were a non-issue, but in my experience it ain't. I'm not seeking to veer into a cable quality "legitimacy" debate, I can only say that the move to the Locus Axis from "standard" USB cables made a discernible difference in the sound quality of my system. The technology has advanced sufficiently in terms of metallurgy, shielding, connector design, etc. in the years that I've owned the Axis that I feel there are likely to be better sounding USB cables now, in the price range that I, personally, am willing to spend. Maybe I need to spend less time hangin' at Computer Audiophile!