Corning Optical USB cable experiences

[Superdad]

Remember gents:

Not only does the Corning USB NOT provide galvanic isolation (the 5VBUS is still sent), but there is either a USB hub chip, clock, and voltage regulator in each end, or a PHY, clock, and voltage reg. In fact I think you will find the cable shows up in the system as a logical HUB. The chip itself is likely a Corning design to integrate the PHY function with the optical transceiver.

So as with using any generic USB hub, you will hear a sonic difference. The question is whether it is a positive one or not. Of course there is such a thing as an optimized for audio USB hub coming, but I will restrain myself from shamelessly plugging such.

 

The Corning Thunderbolt cable is a little more interesting to me, but for storage use, not DAC connection.

 

Edward, did you get your fiber-channel device yet? Can you post a link on the exact product? Was it an Adnaco piece?

 

Cheers,

--Alex C.

[Superdad]

My theory is that the Corning cable works so well because it regenerates the electrical signal in the connector directly behind whatever device is connected. There is essential no potential for corruption of the signal on it's path, and when it arrives it's integrity is very high.

 

Altogether, my digital front-end delivers a wide, tall and deep sound stage with the Corning cable. On tracks with great depth, like the Cowboy Monkeys "Hard to Explain" it is just completely immersive.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Just one: When did the Cowboy Junkies change their name?!

 

Glad you like the effect of the hub chip in the Corning USB cable. That is essentially what John Swenson has done for our new USB REGEN device. It is a carefully chosen USB hub chip, plus ultra-low-noise regulators, plus a low jitter clock--with exact impedance matching at its output--meant to plug directly into the DAC without any cables.

[Superdad]

I conjecture that in a serial multi-hub chain, it is the last hub in the chain that you hear.

 

I very much agree with that. And I have also listened to some very nasty sounding hubs.

 

I look forward to trying the regen at the end of the Corning cable. Please add my name to your waiting list for the device.

 

Please send me a PM with your private e-mail address so I can put you on the list to receive product and ordering information at the beginning of April.

Thanks,

ALEX

 

P.S. I love the Cowboy Monkey! (and the Cowboy Junkies)

[Superdad]

Alex / Superdad

 

So the ultimate USB receipe might be Corning USB 3 with a bunch of ferrites connected to a Regen with a LPS ?

 

I have no idea Edward. I really try hard not to speculate about things I have not experimented with first-hand.

 

But why would you use ferrites on an optical cable? I don't think the photons are influenced magnetic iron or ceramic cores.

[Superdad]

It will be interesting to see how the Mean Well SMPS sounds next week

 

Which one did you order? You mentioned a multi-voltage one. Mean Well makes some very low amperage triples, but those are bi-polar (+ & -) of one voltage plus another + DC, and have a DIN plug. Unless you meant multi-voltage in that they are world-wide mains compatible.

 

You also mentioned getting a couple of linears to compare. Did you mean table-top bricks or warts? Are they regulated linears or just trans & diode unregulated units. It will be fun to see if you come to similar conclusions that I did in testing a pile little supplies to include with the REGEN.

 

(I also realize it is possible that one of the linears you were referring to is our JS-2 that you have on order. But you won't have that unit your are back in NYC at the end of the month.)

[Superdad]

The 5 volt pin on the Corning Cable definitely carries voltage. I know this because the Gustard U12 uses this to itself power up and down. There is an AC relay in the Gustard triggered by the presence of voltage on the USB input.

 

 

Yes, it passes a little through. Just enough current (a few mA) for USB devices to identify so that the computer will have the okay to send data. But not enough to power anything.

[Superdad]

Here is the Mean Well I ordered.

Schaltnetzteil Universal DC 3V 4,5V 5V 6V 7,5V 9V 12V: Amazon.de: Elektronik

 

Really sorry to rain on your parade power adapter testing Edward, but that supply you bought on the German Amazon site is not a Mean Well--despite what the top of the listing seems to imply. Mean Well does not make anything like that, and even the MW logo on the label is not correct.

 

If you want a nice sounding, inexpensive 9V SMPS to compare, then order up this Amazon--Mean Well 9 Volt 2.77A/25W SMPS . It is the 9V version of the GS25A series that I ended up choosing for inclusion with our USB REGEN (I'm shipping the 7.5V version).

 

Have fun!

 

--Alex C.

 

P.S. I have the TP-Link Fiber Media Converters in my Amazon cart. Just waiting to combine with some other items.

[Superdad]

Yikes duped by Amazon Germany !

 

With the part number for the real Mean Well, German ebay comes up with this page that look suspiciously like fakes.

 

Meanwell Stecker-Schaltnetzteil: GS18E09-P1J ; 9V/2A | eBay

 

Actually, the link you just now posted is to a page of what look to be REAL, single-output Mean Wells--assuming what they ship matches the pictures and part numbers. Take a look at the spec PDF for the GS18E series you linked to: http://www.meanwell.com/search/gs18e/GS18E-spec.pdf

But if you want a wall-mount unit, then I'd suggest the identical sized, same priced 25W version instead of the 18W. Try this: GS25E

 

Mean Well is quite consistent between their series in a given wattage range, meaning that the same guts comes in different form factors: from metal enclosure with screws, to "table bricks" with different AC jack options, to wall warts with either fixed or interchangeable plugs. And for some wattages the physical case is the same size, so I go for the higher-rated one.

 

For the REGEN I chose the table-brick unit (GS25A series) as I really dislike wall-warts. Wall mounts take up too much space at the wall or on a power strip, they limit distance to whatever the hard-wired DC cable is, and whatever they might actually radiate I'd sooner not have right next to the AC lines of other devices. Plus, there is no way for me to know the right mix of country plug variations to stock, and the universal wall versions with snap-on worldwide plugs are not well stocked by Mean Well wholesalers.

[Superdad]

believe it or not, I can NOT locate a single "adaptateur USB 2.0 A Male/ B Male" in France nor a single "USB 2.0 A Male/ B Male adapter" in Europe...

 

PM me with your address. I'll mail one to you. I have a few around and I just ordered another 100 pcs. to include with the REGEN.

 

You are wanting this, correct?:

 

[Superdad]

Inside you will find this:

威鋒電å*

 

Good chance of that one sounding pretty bad. Better off with a USB2.0 hub, and one that does not rely on the chip's crappy internal DC-DC switching regulators for 5V.