Who has tried out different USB Cables?

[cjf]

I've used quite a few USB Cables over the years but the one I've stuck with the longest (5yrs or so) and still use today is the Wireworld Platinum Starlight cable between my NUC and my Lynx Hilo. I guess it sounds pretty good and have no complaints with it.

 

But with that said, I can't say with a straight face what percentage (if any) the enjoyable sound I hear has anything at all to do with the $900 USB cable connecting my server and DAC.

 

I've also got a Audioquest Cinnamon and Carbon lying around for random usage. Beside these I've also got Belkin and Monoprice USB cables (with the gold tips!) at my disposal as well. At one point I compared them all and stuck with the Wireworld for whatever reason but I suspect it had something to do with not believing a cheaper $15 cable could sound better than a far more expensive one I already spent good money on 😳.

 

Live and learn

[cjf]

As to the question on why someone would use USB at all compared to Ethernet/WiFi the answer depends on what one is doing with their system. At this stage there are no Eth/Wifi solutions that work well or at all for room correction purposes so this leaves USB and then only a few USB implementations can do multiple channels in a Bi-Directional manor. I would prefer hard wired Ethernet if the option was there but at this point its not so USB it is, for me.

 

At the end of the day any SQ differences between ETH/USB/Wireless are so small in the grand scheme of other things that bring real value add to ones listening that its almost not worth discussing USB cables at all. Let's not forget also the loss of hearing that goes along with the long term effects of the audiophile hobby in general. Unless your listening to your system at 65db all the time (why bother) any SQ changes between the various interfaces/cables will be wiped out easily by a months worth of 90db plus jam sessions....where the real fun begins. I myself prefer 105db or so. You gotta feel it to get a sense of "Being there"..IMO