USB and Other Digital Cables Round Up as of 2/5/2016

 

* Indicates an update since the previous posting.

 

When it’s time to buy USB or other digital cables, what’s the first thing to do? Well, you’re likely to turn to the audiophile mags and Internet sources for reviews and opinions. Info is out there but scattered about, so here is a round up that doesn’t pretend to be comprehensive to assist you. This is what I wished I had when I was in the market for cables to assist in narrowing down my choices. So, I hope you find it helpful my audiophile friends.

 

This round up is divided into a USB Cables section and an Other Digital Cables section. Items are listed by year and prices are listed after each section ranging from $8.25 to $3,595.

 

“Recommended Components” and “Editors’ Choice” lists are a convenient source so some are listed here.

 

Cables that audio reviewers state they use in their own audio systems are included too. For example, Stereophile magazine reviewers typically list digital cables in an associated equipment section of their reviews.

 

Notice that some cables are recommended often; that's a good clue wouldn’t you think?

 

USB Cables

 

2016

 

*Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 USB cable was used by Chris Connaker in his MQA review dated 2/5/2016 at http://www.computeraudiophile.com.

 

*Audioquest Coffee, Nordost Blue Heaven, and Nordost Heimdahl 2.0 USB cables were used by Kirk Midtskog in a Hegel H360 amp review in The Absolute Sound, Feb. 2016, Issue 260.

 

2015

 

Audioquest Diamond and Cardas Clear USB cables were used by Jon Iverson is his review of the Apogee Electronics Groove DAC/headphone amp in Stereophile, January 2016, Vol. 39, No.1.

 

Audience Au24 SE USB cable was reviewed by editor Robert Harley at theasolutesound.com in the Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, & Music 2015 (free download). He concluded, "priced at the very top end of the scale, but if you want a no-compromise USB cable, look no further."

 

Oyaide d+ Class A USB 2.0 cable was reviewed and highly recommended by Karl Schuster at theasolutesound.com in the Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, & Music 2015 (free download).

 

Kubala-Sosna Research Realization USB cable was given a Positivefeedback.com 2015 Brutus Award by editor David Robinson. He said it "is absolutely the best USB cable that I've heard to date. You can quote me on that…and you can take it to the bank."

 

Audioquest Diamond, Wire World Platinum Starlight 7, and Nordost Purple Flare USB cables were used by John Connaker in his review of the Schitt Audio Yggdrasil DAC in ComputerAudiophile.com on November 3, 2015.

 

Kubala-Sosna Research Realization USB cable was reviewed by Steven Plaskin at Audiostream.com on October 22, 2015. He compared it to the Audioquest Diamond, Light Harmonic LightSpeed 10G USB, and Synergistic Research Galileo LE USB Cables. He said that it "receives my strongest accolades as the most satisfying USB cable I have had the pleasure to audition."

 

The Shunyata Vemon and Audioquest Carbon USB cables were recommended as good matches with the Benchmark DAC2 HGC digital/analog converter by Steven Plaskin in the comments section of his review of the Kubala-Sosna Research Realization USB cable (see above).

 

DanaCable USB cable was reviewed by Wayne Donnelly at EnjoyTheMusic.com in the September 2015 edition.

 

Clarus Crimson USB and Kimber Kable KS2436 USB cables were reviewed by Neil Gader on August 26, 2015 in a The Absolute Sound online review. He gave the Clarus Crimson USB a Golden Ear Award 2015.

 

Stereophile online 2015 Recommended Components (queried May 15, 2015):

 

AudioQuest Forest iPod–USB cable

Transparent Audio Performance USB cable

 

Shunyata Research Venom USB cable. Reviewed positively by Steven Plaskin, Audiostream.com, April 30, 2015. In the review, he mentioned the Belkin Pro Series USB cable negatively and called the Audioquest Diamond USB cable one of his favorites.

 

2014

 

DH Labs Silver Sonic USB, Cardas Clear USB, and Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7.0 USB cables were reviewed online by Jonathan Lo, EnjoyTheMusic.com, mid-December 2014. The Belkin Gold Series USB cable is also mentioned in comparison.

 

Nordost Blue Heaven USB cable. Listed as associated equipment by Art Dudley, Stereophile, July 2014.

 

Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Stealth Varidig Sextet USB cable, and the Synergistic Research USB Active SE cable were compared online by Andy Schaub, positive-feedback.com, Issue 72, March/April 2014.

 

The Absolute Sound (TAS) 2014 High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide, Issue 237 recommendations:

 

Audioquest Carbon

Audioquest Diamond

Audioquest Forest

Belkin Gold Series

Straightwire USB-Link

Wireworld Platinum Starlight

Wireworld Silver Starlight

 

The Absolute Sound 2013 Editors’ Choice Awards, Issue 241, March 2014 recommendations:

 

Audioquest Carbon

Audioquest Diamond

Belkin Gold Series

Wireworld Platinum Starlight

Wireworld Silver Starlight

 

Audioquest Coffee and Belkin Gold USB cables were used by Stereophile editor John Atkinson as associated equipment in a recent DAC review. Source: Stereophile, March 2014, Vol. 37, No. 3.

 

Audioquest Diamond and Cardas Clear USB cables were used by Jon Iverson as associated equipment in a recent DAC review. Source: Stereophile, March 2014, Vol. 37, No. 3.

 

Light Harmonic LightSpeed USB cable was used in the Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC review in Audiostream online by Michael Lavorgna on February 24, 2014.

 

Cardas Clear and DH Labs Silver Sonic USB cables were used by Erick Lichte as associated equipment in a DAC review. Source: Stereophile, February 2014, Vol. 37, No. 2.

 

Audioquest Diamond and Wireworld Sliver Starlight USB cables were used by Chris Connaker as associated equipment in recent reviews on 1/29/2014.

 

Light Harmonic LightSpeed and Synergistic Research USB Active SE cables were deemed the best sounding match with the Bricasti Design M1 DACunder review by Steven Plaskin in Audiostream online on January 20, 2014.

 

2013

 

Stereophile online 2013 Recommended Components:

 

Audioquest Forest

Transparent Audio Performance

 

Pranawire Photon USB cable won a Positive Feedback 2013 Brutus Award from editor David Robinson. He stated that this is his new reference standard.

 

Purist Audio Design Ultimate, Wywires Litespd, and Light Harmonic Lightspeed USB cables won Positive Feedback 2013 Brutus Awards from editor Dave Clark.

 

Audioquest Diamond and Synergistic Research USB Active SE cables were deemed the best sounding match with the Benchmark DAC2 HGC under review by Steven Plaskin in Audiostream online on December 4, 2013.

 

USB cables that Plaskin uses in his own high end system are: Audioquest Diamond and Light Harmonic LightSpeed.

 

In Audiostream.com there is a review of three cables titled “USB Cable Shootout” by Steven Plaskin on April 22, 2013:

 

Audioquest Diamond

Synergistic Research USB Active SE cable with Enigma Tuning Circuits

Wireworld Platinum Starlight

 

2012

 

Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB cable won a TAS 2012 Golden Ear Award from Alan Taffel in the Sept. 2012 issue.

Audioquest Diamond USB cable review in TAS March 2012 by editor Robert Harley. This is his reference cable.

 

DH Labs Silver Sonic USB cable was reviewed favorably by Tom Gibbs in Positive Feedback, Issue 59, Jan/Feb 2012 edition.

 

DH Labs Silver Sonic USB cable won a Goodsound/SoundStage! 2012 Great Buy Award. Reviewed by Hans Wetzel on January 1, 2012.

 

Price List Of USB Cables In This Round Up

 

Audience Au24 SE USB cable (length not specified; $895 single connector; $995 double connector)

Audioquest Carbon (0.75m $129; 1.5m $169)

Audioquest Coffee (0.75m $279; 1.5m $349)

Audioquest Diamond (0.75m $549; 1.5m $695)

Audioquest Forest (0.75m $35; 1.5m $39)

Audioquest Forest iPod–USB cable (1.5m $39)

Belkin Gold Series (1m $15)

Belkin Pro Series (6ft $8.25)

Cardas Clear (1m $168)

Clarus Crimson (1m $250; 2m $350)

DanaCable (2m $895)

DH Labs Silver Sonic (1m $70; 1.5m $80)

Kubala-Sosna Research Realization (1m $3500)

Kimber Kable KS2436 (1m/$1195)

Light Harmonic Lightspeed (1.6m $1399)

Nordost Blue Heaven (1m $249; 3m $699)

Nordost Heimdahl 2.0 (1m $499)

Oyaide d+ Class A USB 2.0 (1m $50; 2m $70; 3m $90)

Pranawire Photon (0.6m $995; 1.2m $1295)

Purist Audio Design Ultimate (1m $995)

Shunyata Research Venom (.75m $125; 1.5m $195)

Stealth Varidig Sextet (1m $3,000)

Straightwire USB-Link (1m, $50; 1.5m, $60)

Synergistic Research USB Active SEe w/ Enigma Tuning Circuits (1m $595)

Transparent Audio Performance (1m $95)

Wireworld Platinum Starlight (1m $599)

Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 (1m $700)

Wireworld Silver Starlight (1m $275)

Wywires Litespd (1.5m $799)

 

 

Other Digital Cables Recommendations

 

2016

 

*Audioquest Hawkeye 75 Ohm and Shunyata Anaconda Ztron S/PDIF digital cables were used by Kirk Midtskog in a Hegel H360 amp review in The Absolute Sound, Feb. 2016, Issue 260.

 

2015

 

Empirical Design ED-120 Coaxial 75 Ohm Digital cable is part of reviewer's Karl Schuster's stereo system as noted in his review of the Oyaide d+ Class A USB 2.0 cable at theasolutesound.com in the downloadable Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, & Music 2015.

 

Stereophile online 2015 Recommended Components (queried 5/15/2015):

 

Canare DigiFlex Gold model RCAPOO3F digital cable (75 ohm)

DH Labs Silver Sonic D-110 AES/EBU digital cable

Kimber Orchid AES/EBU digital cable

Kubala-Sosna Expression digital cable (75 Ohm)

 

2014

 

Black Cat Veloce 75 Ohm digital cable (1.23m $123). Listed as associated equipment by Kalman Rubinson, Stereophile, July 2014. (Also, reviewed in 6moons.com, July 2010, by Srajan Ebaen.)

 

DH Labs Silver Sonic D-110 AES/EBU digital cable was used by Stereophile editor John Atkinson as associated equipment in a DAC review. Source: Stereophile March 2014, Vol. 37, No. 3.

 

DH Labs Silver Sonic D-110 AES/EBU digital cable and Stereovox HDVX coaxial cable were used by Erick Lichte as associated equipment in a Benchmark DAC2 HGC review. Source: Stereophile, February 2014, Vol. 37, No. 2.

 

Straightwire Info-Link AES/EBU and Coaxial Digital Cable in The Absolute Sound 2014 High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide (other digital cables) Source: Issue 237.

 

Transparent XL Reference Digital Link cable (75 Ohm; 110 Ohm) in TAS Editor's Choice Awards 2014. Reviewed by Jacob Heilbrunn in TAS January 2014, Issue 239.

 

2013

 

Stereophile online 2013 Recommended Components:

 

Analysis Plus Digital Oval

Canare DigiFlex Gold model RCAPOO3F 75 ohm

DH Labs Silver Sonic D-110 AES/EBU

Kimber Orchid AES/EBU

Kubala-Sosna Expression

 

2012

 

Ocellia Reference Cables digital cable won a 6Moons.com Blue Moon Award in September 2012.

 

2011 and Prior

 

Stereovox XV2 75 Ohm Digital cable was reviewed by Rick Becker at EnjoyTheMusic.com in July 2006.

 

Stereovox HDVX Coaxial Digital cable was reviewed favorably in Enjoy the Music.com in January 2004 by Todd Warnke. This site has several other cable reviews.

 

Rick Becker, EnjoytheMusic.com, July 2010, reviewed three digital cables: Harmonic Technology Photon S/PDIF, Audio Sensibility Statement S/PDIF, and Teo Audio Liquid.

 

Kimber D-60 digital cable (75 ohm). Audio Advisor states that this was a Stereophile recommended cable in 1996.

 

Price List Of Other Digital Cables In This Round Up

 

Analysis Plus Digital Oval 75 Ohm cable (1m $190)

Audio Sensibility Statement S/PDIF digital cable (1.0/1.5m $199)

Audioquest Hawkeye S/PDIF 75 Ohm digital cable (2m $200)

Black Cat Veloce 75 Ohm cable (1.23m $123)

Canare DigiFlex Gold model RCAPOO3F 75 Ohm cable (3ft $19)

DH Labs Silver Sonic D-110 AES/EBU cable (1m $99)

Empirical Design ED-120 Coaxial 75 Ohm digital cable (3ft $96; 5ft $110; 8ft $131)

Harmonic Technology Photon S/PDIF digital cable (length unknown $1900)

Kimber D-60 75 Ohm cable (.5m $228; 1m $390)

Kimber Orchid AES/EBU cable (1m $757)

Kubala-Sosna Expression cable (1m $775)

Ocellia Reference Cables digital cable (1m $1027)

Shunyata Anaconda Ztron S/PDIF digital coaxial cable (1m $1250)

Stereovox HDVX coaxial cable (1m $100 in yr. 2004)

Stereovox XV2 75 Ohm digital cable (1m $150 in yr. 2006)

Straightwire Info-Link AES/EBU or coaxial cable (1m $220; 1.5m $280)

Teo Audio Liquid digital cable (1m $749)

Transparent XL Reference Digital Link cable (75 Ohm $3195; 110 Ohm $3595)