USB cable comparisons

[amir57bs]

Qurious and Diamond are in break-in process and Purist Anniversary in on hand to comparision.

don't believe my idea before break-in but it seems the Qurious is a serious killer.

 

[kevalin]

I am very curious your thoughts on this comparison. Purist 30th Anniversary is a stellar cable and priced well, IME. I would be happy to send you my Vertere Pulse R 1.5 meter to add in the mix. Just send it back as it was stupid expensive. I am not using it at the moment. PM me, if interested.

 

-j

[amir57bs]

I am very curious your thoughts on this comparison. Purist 30th Anniversary is a stellar cable and priced well, IME. I would be happy to send you my Vertere Pulse R 1.5 meter to add in the mix. Just send it back as it was stupid expensive. I am not using it at the moment. PM me, if interested.

 

-j

 

I am in tehran , Iran.

 

Amir Hossein Akbari

Unit 3

First Floor

NO.13

Khansari Deadend

Somayeh Street

Shariati Street

Tehran

Iran

[highstream]

Qurious and Diamond are in break-in process and Purist Anniversary in on hand to comparision.

don't believe my idea before break-in but it seems the Qurious is a serious killer.

 

Amir, For the sake of online searches, I think you meant Curious not Qurious.

[YashN]

As long as you use a non-optical USB Cable, your setup and cable will be subject to interference (most DACs) - the USB cable being a weak link with several effects elsewhere.

 

Look into trying HQ Player on a server computer, with Ethernet into a small NAA (Network-Attached Audio device) itself then connected to your DAC by wither a really, really short USB cable or a hard connector (or a short Curious USB if you have that, or I2S if that's possible - not sure here).

[highstream]

I'm not sure what an optical USB cable is, but there are a lot simpler ways than a NAS or server to cut interference substantially if this is a computer set up. One is PS Audio's LanRover, which I'm using. My Quad speakers have been dead quiet since installing it. I think there are other similar options as well.

[amir57bs]

you are right

Thank you

[YashN]

I'm not sure what an optical USB cable is, but there are a lot simpler ways than a NAS or server to cut interference substantially if this is a computer set up. One is PS Audio's LanRover, which I'm using. My Quad speakers have been dead quiet since installing it. I think there are other similar options as well.

 

An NAA isn't a NAS.

 

There are many ways to do it.

 

As for an optical USB cable, it is a real digital USB cable as opposed to your normal USB cable, which in fact carries analogue voltage levels with ramp up and down times.

 

Look up Corning USB.

[highstream]

Thanks for clarifying that and correcting my misread. Rereading your post, the two-piece LanRover setup seems not all that different, although w/o requiring a server. The claim, which I and others can attest to, is that it galvanically isolates a dac from a computer or music server. It can be part of short runs, such as I have from computer underneath my desk to dac on top, or much longer ones, such as from another part of a residence.

[YashN]

Thanks for clarifying that and correcting my misread. Rereading your post, the two-piece LanRover setup seems not all that different, although w/o requiring a server. The claim, which I and others can attest to, is that it galvanically isolates a dac from a computer or music server. It can be part of short runs, such as I have from computer underneath my desk to dac on top, or much longer ones, such as from another part of a residence.

 

How are you going to use two LanRovers without a server?

 

Server + NAA = 2 pieces of gear.

 

In LanRover: Server + LanRover1 + LanRover2 = 3 pieces of gear.

[highstream]

With direct (e.g., desktop) computer audio, LanRover 1 + LanRover 2 = two pieces of gear, and presumably a less money in most cases (I got in on LR beta testing, so saved a bit more).

 

How: Computer's USB port or in my case JCAT card --> LanRover 1 via 20 cm Curious USB cable --> LanRover 2 via short LAN cable, Acoustic Revive 0.5m top quality cheap on eBay --> PS Audio Directstream dac via 1m USB cable (TotalDac cable/filter, which I already had). One can add a Jitterbug and Regen in there too, which I was using previously but haven't tested since the LanRover came.

 

For players (USB), I use JPlay + either foobar for quick setup or Bug Head Infinity Blade, which seems to be the best sonically out there but takes a few minutes to set up each time. Also Process Lasso and Fidelizer Pro in the mix.

[YashN]

With direct (e.g., desktop) computer audio

 

That's your server right there.

 

So there's no difference at all in requiring a computer (which I term the server since it serves files to the DAC)...

[highstream]

Not sure why you're quibbling. There's a substantial difference between a single multi-purpose computer and a dedicated music server computer, which is not only separate but typically uses a different OS (Windows) and software.

[mikey8811]

Highstream

 

How does the TotalDac USB compare to the Curious link? Have you tried that?

[HDgeorge]

Highstream

 

How does the TotalDac USB compare to the Curious link? Have you tried that?

 

I had Totaldac and Curious.

Preferred Curious by a tight margin.

But finally WireWorld platinum eclipse is better from both by far. The detail and presence is awesome. And with right system balance musicality shines as well.

 

Of course from a different budget Stealth USB-T is my reference, has it all.

 

Budget wise up to 1000$ WireWorld platinum 7 is da King.

Over that budget Stealth rules.

[mikey8811]

Thanks HDgeorge

 

Did you also try Cardas Clear High Speed?

 

The Wireworld is beyond my budget.

[amir57bs]

Wireworld was never stellar

Stealth was never good

[highstream]

Highstream

 

How does the TotalDac USB compare to the Curious link? Have you tried that?

 

No, not yet, since with the 20 cm Curious it would require moving the LRs onto my desk, where there isn't much room with a larger dac. I wouldn't be surprised if they are very close, as one comment said.

 

The Wireworld is Platinum Starlight not Eclipse. The pro reviews have been unanimous that tonality is not one of its most outstanding strengths, of which it has a few, while for me tonality comes first. To each their tastes and systems.

[Blackstone]

Has anyone upgraded from Transparent Performance USB to Premium? I am tempted to do so.

[maheshkc]

Has anyone upgraded from Transparent Performance USB to Premium? I am tempted to do so.

Hi Blackstone

I upgraded my performance to premium but i didnt like it so much, sounded hrash.

Now i am using total dac usb, which is far better in my system.

[Allan F]

I had Totaldac and Curious.

Preferred Curious by a tight margin.

But finally WireWorld platinum eclipse is better from both by far. The detail and presence is awesome. And with right system balance musicality shines as well.

 

Of course from a different budget Stealth USB-T is my reference, has it all.

 

Budget wise up to 1000$ WireWorld platinum 7 is da King.

Over that budget Stealth rules.

FWIW, I had the WW Platinum Starlight 7 for a long time, but much prefer the Curious which, IMO, is superior in bringing out the timbre of instruments. For example. the natural warmth and resonance of acoustic string instruments like the guitar is reproduced better, resulting in a more natural sound. I also find the Curious to be more musical in my system.

[Dev]

Anybody compare Audience AU24 SE to WW Platinum or the Curious ?

[elcorso]

FWIW, I had the WW Platinum Starlight 7 for a long time, but much prefer the Curious which, IMO, is superior in bringing out the timbre of instruments. For example. the natural warmth and resonance of acoustic string instruments like the guitar is reproduced better, resulting in a more natural sound. I also find the Curious to be more musical in my system.

 

+1

 

I own also the TotalDac.

 

Roch

[zettelsm]

Anybody compare Audience AU24 SE to WW Platinum or the Curious ?

 

I did though indirectly -- I thought the Lightspeed was much much better than the WWPS7, which sounded tonally threadbare in comparison. However the Curious and Audience turned the tables on the LS which, though detailed and giving an impression of great transparency, sounded lightweight and somewhat thin compared to either of the latter.

 

I initially thought the Curious was the better of the two over the AU24 SE but when I ditched the REGEN I'd been using I found the Curious was a bit too incisive and ultimately fatiguing while the Audience Hit the sweet spot by being both harmonically richer and ultimately more detailed and transparent without being fatiguing.

 

I can only surmise that the REGEN, while doing an admirable job taming digital edginess or hardness that might be present with some streamers or commuter sources, ultimately was a bit too much of a good thing after my digital front end improved from Auralic Aries to Aurender N100H to Sonore microRendu.

 

Since this is somewhat system dependent, your mileage may vary.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Steve Z

[Jud]

I can only surmise that the REGEN, while doing an admirable job taming digital edginess or hardness that might be present with some streamers or commuter sources, ultimately was a bit too much of a good thing after my digital front end improved from Auralic Aries to Aurender N100H to Sonore microRendu.

 

Since this is somewhat system dependent, your mileage may vary.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Steve Z

 

The microRendu has Regen circuitry, so by using both you were actually "doubling up" on Regens.