To my ears USB cables do make a difference.

[npxavar]

So, presumably you now have something less rigid and the right length? Who cares if there is no apparent change in sound quality.

It is important that the sound quality is not negatively affected by a change in cables. But this particular example is not very helpful as an argument against cables, although still somewhat helpful. The replacement cables are not of the "Amazon Elements" variety.

 

[Jasonovich]

I thought the cows have come home on this thread, obviously not! 😊

There’s more nuance to simple 0’s and 1’s, it is how the signal is carried without degradation. When signal is lost, on a USB cable there is no re-fetch on the packet, that the DAC is able to correct, so it is logical to assume, a better design USB cable will have more consistency with packet delivery that is reflected in the outcome of the sound quality?

Does consistency of the DataStream signal i.e., the packet on a USB cable equate to better sound?

I can only trust my ears. I know my Supra was far more pleasing to my ear than a generic one and my Chord Shawline took it up a notch further and is it worth four times the price, probably not but is this the only criterion to make an honest judgement?

BTW I didn’t have the heart to sell my Supra on eBay, I’ve plugged it in on my work laptop, looks pretty fine.

I think, and I agree with other commentators, if it makes you happy and you’re content with your purchase then that should be enough, and I also accept that you may not wish to over extend your purchase on cables that only make a small or no difference to your system.

The small difference may be all you need. Why spend more on hardware when every component on the chain is punching above its weigh?

A well balanced system that sounds great should be what everyone should aim for, and, making those small adjustments to the cables (USB included), is the difference between the cherubs pulling the harp strings OR Nigel Farage’s voice, then we should all aim to achieve the former.

Dave Clark article on The Positive Feedback, gives it an interesting spin, check the link below:

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/why-usb-cables-can-make-a-difference/#:~:text=Shielding, quality of materials, even,the resistance of the wire.

 

[Deleted member 201267]

I thought the cows have come home on this thread, obviously not! 😊

There’s more nuance to simple 0’s and 1’s, it is how the signal is carried without degradation. When signal is lost, on a USB cable there is no re-fetch on the packet, that the DAC is able to correct, so it is logical to assume, a better design USB cable will have more consistency with packet delivery that is reflected in the outcome of the sound quality?

Does consistency of the DataStream signal i.e., the packet on a USB cable equate to better sound?

I can only trust my ears. I know my Supra was far more pleasing to my ear than a generic one and my Chord Shawline took it up a notch further and is it worth four times the price, probably not but is this the only criterion to make an honest judgement?

BTW I didn’t have the heart to sell my Supra on eBay, I’ve plugged it in on my work laptop, looks pretty fine.

I think, and I agree with other commentators, if it makes you happy and you’re content with your purchase then that should be enough, and I also accept that you may not wish to over extend your purchase on cables that only make a small or no difference to your system.

The small difference may be all you need. Why spend more on hardware when every component on the chain is punching above its weigh?

A well balanced system that sounds great should be what everyone should aim for, and, making those small adjustments to the cables (USB included), is the difference between the cherubs pulling the harp strings OR Nigel Farage’s voice, then we should all aim to achieve the former.

Dave Clark article on The Positive Feedback, gives it an interesting spin, check the link below:

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/why-usb-cables-can-make-a-difference/#:~:text=Shielding, quality of materials, even,the resistance of the wire.

Maybe give these a try next :-

Gryphon Vanta USB Cable

Gryphon Vanta USB Cable now at Analogue Seduction.

www.analogueseduction.net

 

[Jasonovich]

Maybe give these a try next :-

Gryphon Vanta USB Cable

Gryphon Vanta USB Cable now at Analogue Seduction.

www.analogueseduction.net

The price £4,250.00 is eye watering, it will only serve as cable bling on my system, not unless I'm able to afford a MSB Select DAC II, costs just shy of £90,000 but I'm sure it's a fine product

 

[Friesiansam]

I'm reminded of the old saying: A fool and his money are soon parted.

 

[Deleted member 201267]

The price £4,250.00 is eye watering, it will only serve as cable bling on my system, not unless I'm able to afford a MSB Select DAC II, costs just shy of £90,000 but I'm sure it's a fine product

I was only joking but i appreciate your reply !

 

[Jasonovich]

I was only joking but i appreciate your reply !

I know, it was a bit of fun and nice to have a bit of humility in wake of some people getting so worked up on the subject of USB cables but I thought in the spirit of fair play it deserved a response 😊👍
Was it Clint Eastwood aka Dirty Harry
Who blurted out the infamous line
A mans got to know his limitation
Oh Jesus, who pays £4 £5 grand on cables, if your name is Sheik Ya Munee I can understand Lol 😁

 

[Gray]

Oh Jesus, who pays £4 £5 grand on cables

Very few people probably.
Better value than those £4000 & £8000 fuses - though that's hardly a recommendation..

If you missed it, this forum once set ourselves the challenge of coming up with something more useless than an 'audiophile' fuse.
We failed.
Someone thought they were onto a winner by suggesting a rubber hammer, but no - that has some entertainment value.

Even you wouldn't buy an audiophile fuse Jason 😆

 

[Friesiansam]

Very few people probably.
Better value than those £4000 & £8000 fuses - though that's hardly a recommendation..

If you missed it, this forum once set ourselves the challenge of coming up with something more useless than an 'audiophile' fuse.
We failed.
Someone thought they were onto a winner by suggesting a rubber hammer, but no - that has some entertainment value.

Even you wouldn't buy an audiophile fuse Jason 😆

I have a rubber hammer, it is genuinely useful. If I remember correctly I suggested a rubber spanner.

 

[Jasonovich]

Very few people probably.
Better value than those £4000 & £8000 fuses - though that's hardly a recommendation..

If you missed it, this forum once set ourselves the challenge of coming up with something more useless than an 'audiophile' fuse.
We failed.
Someone thought they were onto a winner by suggesting a rubber hammer, but no - that has some entertainment value.

Even you wouldn't buy an audiophile fuse Jason 😆

I was going to suggest lava salt lamps, some people swear by it. Place it next to your amp or speakers and behold, er yeah, fuses who came up with this crazy notion?
A Rhodium constructed fuse that costs the same price as a very good power filter mains seems totally insane

 

[podknocker]

Quantum Science Audio (QSA) Gold Extreme Level UK Mains Fuse (13A)

Future Shop is thrilled to unveil Quantum Science Audio (QSA), renowned for its expertise in the audiophile fuse domain. With over 22 years of delving into 'Bottle Neck Distortion', QSA fuses offer remarkable system enhancements previously underestimated in the industry. These fuses focus on...

www.futureshop.co.uk

Lifetime supply of snake oil with every order. Fancy cables and fuses CAN'T and DON'T make a difference. Physics and materials science says they can't, so if you think they can, you're wrong (and deluded).

 

[Deleted member 201267]

Quantum Science Audio (QSA) Gold Extreme Level UK Mains Fuse (13A)

Future Shop is thrilled to unveil Quantum Science Audio (QSA), renowned for its expertise in the audiophile fuse domain. With over 22 years of delving into 'Bottle Neck Distortion', QSA fuses offer remarkable system enhancements previously underestimated in the industry. These fuses focus on...

www.futureshop.co.uk

Lifetime supply of snake oil with every order. Fancy cables and fuses CAN'T and DON'T make a difference. Physics and materials science says they can't, so if you think they can, you're wrong (and deluded).

£8k !!!

 

[Gray]

£8k !!!

Serves its (only) purpose perfectly.
It makes absolutely everything else seem like a bargain.

 

[Symples]

Quantum Science Audio (QSA) Gold Extreme Level UK Mains Fuse (13A)

Future Shop is thrilled to unveil Quantum Science Audio (QSA), renowned for its expertise in the audiophile fuse domain. With over 22 years of delving into 'Bottle Neck Distortion', QSA fuses offer remarkable system enhancements previously underestimated in the industry. These fuses focus on...

www.futureshop.co.uk

To all you naysayers and deniers.

Before trashing the merits of these excellent fuses.
Click on the link and scroll down to the review from Clement Perry (Stero Times)
Surely a hifi reviewer cannot be wrong?

I still think it's all bollox.

 

[Friesiansam]

To all you naysayers and deniers.

Before trashing the merits of these excellent fuses.
Click on the link and scroll down to the review from Clement Perry (Stero Times)
Surely a hifi reviewer cannot be wrong?

I still think it's all bollox.

Mr Perry is either stupid, highly suggestable or, will say anything as long as he gets paid, like YouTube influencers.

 

[AJM1981]

I like your analogy.

I think for peace of mind. No one's going to spend hundreds or more on seperates and then connect using cables of which you don't know what the quality of the screening, terminals, the manufacture quality of the whole, is. Surely it has to be worth it to not necessarily spend any more than is necessary, but enough so that one knows exactly what one is using.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/TxsYIsYmBLI?feature=share


Thanks. I came across the video above and from a marketing point of view it sums up the whole point with overpriced "cables on steroids"

In the past consumer cables in hifi were thin. Those thick cables found their roots in Pop concerts in which interference is huge with all kinds of microphones, guitars and amps etc. They also need to be thick in those settings in order to be visible to people around. Thinner cables are easily damaged when actively used like pulling a microphone wire.

But offcourse the "pro-market" needs to trickle down to the consumer somehow. Also when things don't add up at all, as in having a passive setting with little to zero interference.

But those looks compensate so many arguments against.

 

[aversaurus]

I don't doubt more expensive cables sound better but how much better from the ones you get with the item is the question.

 

[Gray]

I don't doubt more expensive cables sound better

You should.
More expensive does not (necessarily) mean audibly better.
A poster on this forum cured hum just by swapping his fancy cable with the original freebie (because let's face it, freebies look like they should sound inferior )

In that case, the (much) more expensive cable was inferior.

 

[Dom]

When a USB cable has less effect on the sound, the better. You want it to change the sound as little as possible for the purist sound, that's the aim for all cables.

 

[AJM1981]

When a USB cable has less effect on the sound, the better. You want it to change the sound as little as possible for the purist sound, that's the aim for all cables.

A USB cable has no effect on sound at all.

 

[Dom]

A USB cable has no effect on sound at all.

Not according to Jasonovich.

 

[AJM1981]

Not according to Jasonovich.

Jasonovich probably has all the data ready to have it peer reviewed.

 

[Dom]

Jasonovich probably has all the data ready to have it peer reviewed.

Jasonovich doesn't have any data at all. He said "To my ears" and "Can we have a sensible debate". Are we not capable of this?

 

[Jasonovich]

Not according to Jasonovich.

Hello somebody woke me up......

 

[Jasonovich]

Like I said it before, let your ears be the judge. I'm not advocating spending insane amounts of money on esotic USB cable, that's just maddness.

First consideration should always be given to the main hardware, cables are the veins that make the juices flow.
You have to bear in mind, digital cables like USB are no different from analogue, such as interconnects and speaker wires, a poorly design generic wire or USB would not be as good as one that is properly made but that's just my opinion.