For those than can hear a difference in USB cables: Are BOTL cables better than generic?

[blownsi]

Whether you can or cannot hear a difference is not up for debate here. I simply want to know if it's worth my time and money to buy one of the low end cables over an in the box type. Would something like an AQ Forrest or WW Chroma be worth buying? Or do you not really hear a difference until the next level?

[Paul R]

I would tell you the answer to that is a most definite yes, if only to ensure the quality of the cable. The minimum cable I usually recommend is a Belkin Gold. $10-$20 at any office supply store. Get the shortest USB cable you can reasonably use with your setup.

 

-Paul

 

 

Whether you can or cannot hear a difference is not up for debate here. I simply want to know if it's worth my time and money to buy one of the low end cables over an in the box type. Would something like an AQ Forrest or WW Chroma be worth buying? Or do you not really hear a difference until the next level?

[NOMBEDES]

BOTL ? What is a BOTL?

[blownsi]

BOTL ? What is a BOTL?

 

BOTL is internet lingo for the cheapest model. It stands for bottom of the line.

[NOMBEDES]

Thanks. I thought I was missing out on a new type of connector.

[bluesman]

Whether you can or cannot hear a difference is not up for debate here. I simply want to know if it's worth my time and money to buy one of the low end cables over an in the box type. Would something like an AQ Forrest or WW Chroma be worth buying? Or do you not really hear a difference until the next level?

My AQ Forest was well worth the modest cost to me. Here's my original thread about it. I still haven't located a 3-figure cable to try in my system, so I can't tell you whether the marginal benefit beyond a $35 cable is great enough to justify the increased cost. But I'm only interested in finding out if I don't have to buy one first.

 

From their area code, the Cable Company appears to be close to me. If so, I'll organize a small list of USB and power cables for comparison and borrow them for a few days to compare. In fact, I'll call them right now.

I just called the Cable Company and spoke to a nice guy named John. The "deposit" is non-refundable but credited toward any future purchase, and it's 5% of the retail price of the cable. I'll have to get out of work early one day and run up there so I can try an AQ Diamond and a DH Labs cable that he recommends as a close but less expensive alternative. More to come......

[Musicophile]

+1 on the Forest. Was a clear upgrade to my generic USB cable. Beyond that, I had a handful of other USB cables at home, including the AQ Carbon, but the difference wasn't significant or reproducible enough for my to justify the premium.

[Jud]

Yes, I'd recommend the Forest as a very nice inexpensive cable. The best I've heard personally is my Mapleshade Clearlink Plus, which in my system handily beat an AQ Coffee twice its price. Comes with a 15 or 30-day satisfaction guarantee (don't recall which), so perhaps you can arrange to have the Diamond on loan at the same time.

 

Oh, forgot to mention the Clearlink Plus in 1 meter length is $135.