USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Anything to do with computer audio, hardware, software etc.
randytsuch
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2014 4:19 am

USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by randytsuch »

Right now, I'm still using a cheap, generic USB cable from my PC to my DAC.

Wondering what you guys are using, hopefully something inexpensive, I refuse to spend a lot of money on cables.

Randy
MSI H81-P33 MB, Xeon E3-1225 V3, LPS/LIFEPO4 and Astron RS-12A, 240gb SSD music, 2nd SSD for OS, Mod SS PCIE USB card, Server2012 R2 Ess+AO+MQn, Amanero USB to DACEND ES9018 to Schiit Lyr amp to Senn HD 700 headphones
Aleg
Posts: 1381
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2013 8:26 pm

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by Aleg »

randytsuch wrote:Right now, I'm still using a cheap, generic USB cable from my PC to my DAC.

Wondering what you guys are using, hopefully something inexpensive, I refuse to spend a lot of money on cables.

Randy
Better not ask then!
HDPLEX;picoPSU;ASUS Q87M;i7-4770T;PH SR7EHD;Server2012R2;Thesycon 2.24;
JCAT USB;Sonicweld DiverterHR2;Naim DC1;Chord Hugo;Morrow Audio MA6;Naim NAC-282,SuperCapDR;NAP-300;
AQ Cinnamon;GISO GB;Netgear Pro+XM21X;Cisco SG300;NAS-ZFS.
User avatar
Rocker
Posts: 563
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 3:59 pm

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by Rocker »

Expensive is the price of something that works no better than a freebie. Most IT professionals will state as a fact that one USB cable is the same as another. John Kenny of this here parish is probably your best man to ask.
It's OK, if there is no bread I will eat cake.

Beware of a thin chef!
randytsuch
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2014 4:19 am

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by randytsuch »

Aleg wrote:
randytsuch wrote:Right now, I'm still using a cheap, generic USB cable from my PC to my DAC.

Wondering what you guys are using, hopefully something inexpensive, I refuse to spend a lot of money on cables.

Randy
Better not ask then!
Lol. I'm sure there are reasonably priced cables out there that sound better than the standard el cheapo ones.

I remember reading someone recommending direct connect, basically using an adapter. I don't think I can make that work with my setup, but who knows, maybe after I'm done messing with my dac, I can figure out how to do that.
MSI H81-P33 MB, Xeon E3-1225 V3, LPS/LIFEPO4 and Astron RS-12A, 240gb SSD music, 2nd SSD for OS, Mod SS PCIE USB card, Server2012 R2 Ess+AO+MQn, Amanero USB to DACEND ES9018 to Schiit Lyr amp to Senn HD 700 headphones
randytsuch
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2014 4:19 am

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by randytsuch »

Rocker wrote:Expensive is the price of something that works no better than a freebie. Most IT professionals will state as a fact that one USB cable is the same as another. John Kenny of this here parish is probably your best man to ask.
Most IT guys don't listen to PCs with a high end stereo ;)
I'm sure if I told my IT dept what I did to my home PC to make it sound better, they would think I'm totally nuts.

Randy
MSI H81-P33 MB, Xeon E3-1225 V3, LPS/LIFEPO4 and Astron RS-12A, 240gb SSD music, 2nd SSD for OS, Mod SS PCIE USB card, Server2012 R2 Ess+AO+MQn, Amanero USB to DACEND ES9018 to Schiit Lyr amp to Senn HD 700 headphones
nige2000
Posts: 4253
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:47 am
Location: meath

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by nige2000 »

randytsuch wrote:
Rocker wrote:Expensive is the price of something that works no better than a freebie. Most IT professionals will state as a fact that one USB cable is the same as another. John Kenny of this here parish is probably your best man to ask.
Most IT guys don't listen to PCs with a high end stereo ;)
I'm sure if I told my IT dept what I did to my home PC to make it sound better, they would think I'm totally nuts.

Randy
undoubtedly nuts

this is the way i do it with silver wire d+,d- and gnd wires

start with 10mm cotton rope, wrap ptfe tape around it, spiral the three wires on it then more ptfe tape, copper tape or braid for shielding which is only connected to pc side plug and maybe some 3:1 heatshrink with adhesive on outside would be nice to finish

i dont think sending power V+ though usb cable is a good idea
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
sima66
Posts: 872
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:35 pm
Location: Canada

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by sima66 »

randytsuch wrote:
Aleg wrote:
randytsuch wrote:Right now, I'm still using a cheap, generic USB cable from my PC to my DAC.

Wondering what you guys are using, hopefully something inexpensive, I refuse to spend a lot of money on cables.

Randy
Better not ask then!
Lol. I'm sure there are reasonably priced cables out there that sound better than the standard el cheapo ones.

I remember reading someone recommending direct connect, basically using an adapter. I don't think I can make that work with my setup, but who knows, maybe after I'm done messing with my dac, I can figure out how to do that.
If possible, I will always chose direct connection with good adapter.
I5 4440+TXCOmobo+JCAT Femto-Intona-JKRegen+HynesPS+TeraDak ATX-820W=JCATusb=DiverterHR=Wadia 931/922(GNSC mod)=PassLabsXA100.5=2xValhalla=Stacked&moded ESL57+JAS SuperTweet+2MJ Acoustics Ref.I
4SteinHarmonizers;RR777;Tellus;StillpointsUltraSS
User avatar
sdiesel77
Posts: 432
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:56 am
Location: Celbridge, Co. Kildare

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by sdiesel77 »

Tubes & Vinyls are making life brighter..
randytsuch
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2014 4:19 am

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by randytsuch »

nige2000 wrote:
randytsuch wrote:
Rocker wrote:Expensive is the price of something that works no better than a freebie. Most IT professionals will state as a fact that one USB cable is the same as another. John Kenny of this here parish is probably your best man to ask.
Most IT guys don't listen to PCs with a high end stereo ;)
I'm sure if I told my IT dept what I did to my home PC to make it sound better, they would think I'm totally nuts.

Randy
undoubtedly nuts

this is the way i do it with silver wire d+,d- and gnd wires

start with 10mm cotton rope, wrap ptfe tape around it, spiral the three wires on it then more ptfe tape, copper tape or braid for shielding which is only connected to pc side plug and maybe some 3:1 heatshrink with adhesive on outside would be nice to finish

i dont think sending power V+ though usb cable is a good idea
The thing with making your own is that you would not be able to keep the 90 ohm characteristic impedance that USB needs.

I was looking for "better" bulk usb cable to diy it with, but so far no luck, just found standard stuff, which is +/-15% of the 90 ohms

Randy
MSI H81-P33 MB, Xeon E3-1225 V3, LPS/LIFEPO4 and Astron RS-12A, 240gb SSD music, 2nd SSD for OS, Mod SS PCIE USB card, Server2012 R2 Ess+AO+MQn, Amanero USB to DACEND ES9018 to Schiit Lyr amp to Senn HD 700 headphones
nige2000
Posts: 4253
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:47 am
Location: meath

Re: USB cable from PC to DAC, recommendations?

Post by nige2000 »

Lol
You'll do well to make a cable better than a USB a to b adapter

I wonder what the impedance is in one of those?

Jcat USB is one of the best ones and I doubt its 90ohms either

The wireworld is OK but you'll easily make better sounding cable if you can be not so worried by impedance

Do you think I'd advise something that wouldn't work?
Or worse sound bad?
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
Post Reply