Higher End USB Cables

Thanks for the input. I had the chance to try a Locus Design Axis in my system, but unfortunately it was not my cup of tea. It bettered the stock cable that I got with my RA Cantata in most areas like wider soundstage, better depth and cleared up the mids very well. OTOH I lost height of soundstage, it took some snap out of the whole musical experience and took away my LFs. Now I'm no LF addict, but I checked back and forth and first I thought that I might have some LF bump and that the cable cleaned that up, but after some comparing I think that it did too much of a good thing. I'm sure it's a great cable, but unfortunately it didn't work well with my system.
I just ordered 3 USB cables the TheCableCo's library (Audioquest Coffee, Wireworld Silver Starlight and Synergistic Basik Aktiv) and will test them over the next two weeks. Will report back as to what suits my ears and my system best.

I am still using Lee's original Cynosure cable. I haven't tried anything new for around 2 years now. At the time, it crushed everything else I tried.

Ditto. I still have the Nucleus (Mk I as well)

Have done some testing with Audioquest Coffee, Wireworld Silver Starlight, Locus Design Axis and Synergistic Research Basik Activ. I wrote a kind of detailed review in Portuguese here:http://www.htforum.com/vb/showthread.php/199786-minha-saga-montando-um-novo-sistema?p=4599395&viewfull=1#post4599395 and since I don't feel like translating everything I guess that google translate might help out. I would just like to point out that I had forgotten to give my system a proper warm-up before listening to the Axis. With a properly warmed-up system (aprox. 1h play time in my case) things looked different. It wasn't my favorite and, for the money, I prefer the SR Basik, but the delicacy and extension of the highs were, by far, the best of the pack. Best bang for buck: the Silver Starlight. Fantastic LF. Am very curious about the Platinum.

Thanks for the shootout. Axis was one of my favorites.

Make sure that when you do these tests, that the USB DAC or USB converter is powered from the same AC circuit as the computer that is driving it. Otherwise the common-mode noise can get in the way of the performance. One way to reduce this noise is a USB cable filter, but even with this you should power them from the same circuit:

http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/short-block

Steve N.
Empirical Audio