USB cable comparisons

[oscarnr]

 

Dear Oscar,

 

Tellurium Q have now got the Black Diamond in production:-

The first review can be seen here:-

http://www.inner-magazines.com/news/503/57/Tellurium-s-Brand-New-Black-Diamond-USB-Cable/#sthash.IExbOYs6.dpuf

 

Regards Colin

 

 

Yes! I will test it (and buy it) if all goes well. I contacted Tellurium Q spanish distributor yesterday asking for a home demo trial.

 

Best regards

 

Oscar

[jtwrace]

(Sort of like bragging "We are ISO 9000!", when all it could mean is "What we make stinks, but everything we make stinks in exactly the same way.)

 

That's great!

[Colin TQ]

Yes! I will test it (and buy it) if all goes well. I contacted Tellurium Q spanish distributor yesterday asking for a home demo trial.

 

Best regards

 

Oscar

 

Good Francisco is a good guy he will look after you, give him my regards

 

Col

[reverendo]

has anyone here had any experience with the Purist Ultimate USB cable? I've got a chance to get it, but I don't think I'll be able to compare it.

[Alex66]

decided to go with two of these - on offer for £5 the pair!

 

Buy QED Digital USB A/B Data Cable for USB Printers/PC/Netbooks 1.5M from our Computer Cables & Power Supply range - Tesco.com

Cheers for the heads up I pick up a pair on Tuesday, got to wait for the USB module to arrive and build the rest of the DAC though before any opinion can be given.

[wisnon]

Thumbs up for the iFi Audio Gemini cable!

[CKKeung]

Thumbs up for the iFi Audio Gemini cable!

 

Hi wisnon,

 

You have got the iFi Gemini?

Please tell us more about its performance.

Many thanks!

[Amithlon]

Hi peoples,

I previously wrote abut an ultra clean power supply for USB DAC use.

Having located only a very few (affordable) and a couple more (expensive)

cables, i wondered if it were possible to design a voltage breakout of some sort.

(primarily i wanted to disconnect the 5V computer supply from ever getting to the DAC, or even the cable)

so i settle upon some basic design criteria (others exist and i may need to add them later)

1. remove dodgy 5V supply ASAP

2. maintain signal integrity through the adaptor phase

to this end the USB standard of 90 ohms must be maintained, ideally the port to be used and the device to be used should be

allowed for and set up (and that is a problem for most users) and probably accounts for much of the problems involved

(having worked with RF in the upto 200GHz range upto 200Kw, and optical fibres, VSWR and signal propagation are of utmost importance. - phase velocity, signal velocity etc)

I remember working on a BOTWT (backward oscillating travelling wave tube), where the output was there before the signal went in ! as well as phase velocities well above the speed of light. (Quacky sorry Quantum mechanics)

The design uses 2 spaced standard 1oz GRP PCB boards, one is the ground plane,

the other carries the signal on 2 tuned impedance lines. the gap between the 2 allows me to tune the impedance,

both in and out, from around 70 to 110 ohms (maybe a bit more). One could use a screw (nylon) to independently adjust

the in and out impedances - could be used on its own to match any DAC to a cable.

A switch will allow the ground from the computer to be isolated or not (through a PI low pass filter).

Banana sockets on the case would allow injection of the clean 5V supply.

It had also come to me that both supply, switching and signal path etc could be placed in a single box.

or offered separately. Aluminium shielding with a perspex case would be fine, but the use of Mumetal would be

the ideal situation (no magnetic field = no induced voltages), the former would look much speccier.

What do you guys think ?

Is there anyone keen to trial the device and/or the power supply ?

You would need a good assortment of cables from bottom to top.

 

 

Off to do some more design implementation then.....

[reverendo]

I sold my Audioquest Diamond thinking that the Cantata was ready for prime time... well, it isn't yet, so I'll probably just order another Diamond. I just thought that maybe someone has listened to something interesting these last few months that might be worth mentioning before I bite the bullet.

[christopher3393]

Hi peoples,

I previously wrote abut an ultra clean power supply for USB DAC use.

Having located only a very few (affordable) and a couple more (expensive)

cables, i wondered if it were possible to design a voltage breakout of some sort.

(primarily i wanted to disconnect the 5V computer supply from ever getting to the DAC, or even the cable)

so i settle upon some basic design criteria (others exist and i may need to add them later)

 

1. remove dodgy 5V supply ASAP

2. maintain signal integrity through the adaptor phase

to this end the USB standard of 90 ohms must be maintained, ideally the port to be used and the device to be used should be

allowed for and set up (and that is a problem for most users) and probably accounts for much of the problems involved

(having worked with RF in the upto 200GHz range upto 200Kw, and optical fibres, VSWR and signal propagation are of utmost importance. - phase velocity, signal velocity etc)

I remember working on a BOTWT (backward oscillating travelling wave tube), where the output was there before the signal went in ! as well as phase velocities well above the speed of light. (Quacky sorry Quantum mechanics)

The design uses 2 spaced standard 1oz GRP PCB boards, one is the ground plane,

the other carries the signal on 2 tuned impedance lines. the gap between the 2 allows me to tune the impedance,

both in and out, from around 70 to 110 ohms (maybe a bit more). One could use a screw (nylon) to independently adjust

the in and out impedances - could be used on its own to match any DAC to a cable.

A switch will allow the ground from the computer to be isolated or not (through a PI low pass filter).

Banana sockets on the case would allow injection of the clean 5V supply.

It had also come to me that both supply, switching and signal path etc could be placed in a single box.

or offered separately. Aluminium shielding with a perspex case would be fine, but the use of Mumetal would be

the ideal situation (no magnetic field = no induced voltages), the former would look much speccier.

What do you guys think ?

Is there anyone keen to trial the device and/or the power supply ?

You would need a good assortment of cables from bottom to top.

 

 

Off to do some more design implementation then.....

 

Ummm....dude, who ARE you? You clearly have some skills. What's your background and where have you been hiding?

[Amithlon]

Ummm....dude, who ARE you? You clearly have some skills. What's your background and where have you been hiding?

 

I live in Brisbane Australia, in fact i have lived in most of the major cities of this country.

I am 52, I am a rank mad Mni driver, owned a supercharged 1312cc SS show special (1976) pumped 165hp, 147mph 14.8s quarter.(all my custom design end to end) now own a 2005 ligh tblue MINI cooper, and son is building an 73 Mini - in aston martin pearl orange.

 

As to technical history, 3 years in Army engineers (sapper), 6 years in Avionics with RAAF, Hydro electric electrical standards laboratory,Automotive engine analysis systems, everything from DC to 200GHz, 1fW to 200Kw, TV transmitters, translators, Amiga computers, (my first 12 bit DAC !), Degree in electronic engineering, Associate diploma in electrical engineering (sorry masters not worth it in $ here). Modified audio since my dad's days, Teac reel to reel, home built amps , home built speakers, custom wound transformers, Sound system ? Polk model 5's, Technics SB-10 with strathearn mofidied leaf tweeters, Hafler 100W/side amp (totally rebuilt) with 150W/side, Sansui AUD-11, sansui AM/FM tuner, teac and akai tape decks, Sony PSX-800 linear tracker with shure V15-V MR cartridge, local JH audiolab turntable with micro acoustics 630e cartridge, just about everything i own is hacked modified or tweaked, currently building an Arduino based 8 digit voltmeter - thus the need for ultra quiet power supplies, heavy duty computing (4.8GHz water cooled i7 2600K with 40TB of HDD, just put in a 250GB Samsung 840EVO drive) rechipped the cooper, Building ultra quiet supplies with HARD voltage regulation - to split off computer power supply and give the best i can into it. Also building a custom headphone amp, similar (but modified topology to the RSA XP-7 ), sennheiser and other headphones.

Also looking at a newer power amp, (maybe build, maybe modify). Also getting a Highface2 DAC- but using a split cable and custom psu... Brought up in the age of monster cable, quads, Nakamichi, Infinity, pre digital, quadraphonic popped around, many have top end english gear, B&W, Quad, Linn.....

I love Magneplanar, no preference in amps at the moment, would like the Stax headphones (one day). intending to build a specific PC just for music (possibly with a linear supply and modified cases, anyone know where i can get mumetal ?)

 

hope that helps a bit....

[MarkS]

I haven't heard it, but the Tellerium Black Diamond is something I want to try.

 

I recently switched from Locus Cynosure (v1) to Synergistics new powered USB with the galileo PSU. I like a lot of things about the Sneegistics cable (very well defined imaging), but the stage is a little lacking in depth and tye cable seems a bit bright sometimes.

[reverendo]

MarkS,

You got won heck of a system there! I tested the Synergistic, but it was with the normal psu. Did the Galileo make much of a difference?

 

I haven't heard it, but the Tellerium Black Diamond is something I want to try.

 

I recently switched from Locus Cynosure (v1) to Synergistics new powered USB with the galileo PSU. I like a lot of things about the Sneegistics cable (very well defined imaging), but the stage is a little lacking in depth and tye cable seems a bit bright sometimes.

[pompon]

When I plug my WW Platinum in my iFi iUSB, the connexion is pretty loose compared to my WW Ultraviolet.

 

Can I put a paper inside the connector to help the grip ?

 

Is the external connector act only like a grip or it's a ground too ?

[reverendo]

Purist Ultimate USB cable coming the next few days. Will do burn in and then compare to the AQ Diamond.

[Matias]

reverendo, did you try SR Active SE with the Galileo MPC upgrade?

[Mercman]

reverendo,

 

The SR USB Active SE even sounds better using a Transporter Ultra SE instead of the Galileo MPC. Now the Transporter only makes sense if you have a number of SR cables, AC cables, and other products. But the USB cable sounds much better with the Transporter.

[tboooe]

reverendo,

 

The SR USB Active SE even sounds better using a Transporter Ultra SE instead of the Galileo MPC. Now the Transporter only makes sense if you have a number of SR cables, AC cables, and other products. But the USB cable sounds much better with the Transporter.

 

One alternative to the Galilleo and perhaps the Transporter is to have the MPC modded. Many people especially on the Audiogon site have had this modification done, including me, and have been very happy with the results. I havent dont it yet on my USB Active SE but I plan to once I pick up another SR Tungsten power cable so I can get both MPCs done at the same time. I havent compared my modded MPC to the Galileo or Transporter but I am very satisfied and dont feel the need to compare. Anyway, just an option.

[reverendo]

reverendo, did you try SR Active SE with the Galileo MPC upgrade?

nope, never tried it. the added expense wouldn't have been within my budget at that time and I don't have any other SR cables. it was already a great cable with the normal MPC, but the Diamond fit my system better. let's see if a cable almost double the price is a better fit or not

[gmgraves]

"I am currently looking for a USB cable that will fit my system, so I'm not looking for "THE BEST" cable, but the one that will work the best according to my ears."

 

Please, someone, tell the how a cable carrying ones and zeros can affect the sound. Do some cables introduce read errors that force the DAC into interpolation? I don't think so. They wouldn't be much good as conductors if they did that. So, tell me, what is the mechanism that could possibly make a difference to the sound coming out of a D/A Converter, if they are all bit-perfect (and they are)?

[reverendo]

"I am currently looking for a USB cable that will fit my system, so I'm not looking for "THE BEST" cable, but the one that will work the best according to my ears."

 

Please, someone, tell the how a cable carrying ones and zeros can affect the sound. Do some cables introduce read errors that force the DAC into interpolation? I don't think so. They wouldn't be much good as conductors if they did that. So, tell me, what is the mechanism that could possibly make a difference to the sound coming out of a D/A Converter, if they are all bit-perfect (and they are)?

George,

since you quoted the first paragraph of my first post of this thread I'd like to post the second one, the one that comes right after it.

"I'd like to discourage those who do not hear differences in USB cables (or all cables) to post on this thread. I understand and respect your opinions and findings, but we'll have to agree to disagree. As human beings we all have different physical abilities. Some can run long stretches, some are fast swimmers, some are lift heavy weights... you get my point. This also applies to the physical part of listening, too. It's also true that we don't have the same experience (and/or training) in processing the information that our brain receives and, of course, this also applies to listening. So please, PLEASE, let's not let this thread become a discussion about placebo effects vs. hearing and listening disabilities, ok?"

The idea is not to discuss the theory, but the perceived reality. You're welcome to discuss within this frame. If not, maybe it would be best to iniciate another thread.

Best regards

[Allan F]

So please, PLEASE, let's not let this thread become a discussion about placebo effects vs. hearing and listening disabilities, ok?...If not, maybe it would be best to initiate another thread.

Best regards

 

+1

[The Computer Audiophile]

"I am currently looking for a USB cable that will fit my system, so I'm not looking for "THE BEST" cable, but the one that will work the best according to my ears."

 

Please, someone, tell the how a cable carrying ones and zeros can affect the sound. Do some cables introduce read errors that force the DAC into interpolation? I don't think so. They wouldn't be much good as conductors if they did that. So, tell me, what is the mechanism that could possibly make a difference to the sound coming out of a D/A Converter, if they are all bit-perfect (and they are)?

 

George - This thread ain't for you.

[Allan F]

...and this is the reason I do not use any Wireworld USB cables (timbre is inaccurate and soundstage is collapsed),

 

Perhaps just a tiny bit of an overgeneralization, or a gross one!

 

Surely, this is system dependent. An unqualified statement that "timbre is inaccurate and soundstage is collapsed" with WW USB cables is, IMO, simply foolish. Through my Luxman DA-06, the timbre is nothing short of outstanding with the WW Platinum Starlight. While I can't offer a comparative comment as I haven't tried other USB cables in my system, I certainly have no complaints on the soundstage score.

[pompon]

+1 for WW Platinum. I have this cable and it's the best soundstage I have ever had on my system. Not had chance to test other than RCA USB, WW Ultraviolet and somes stock.