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The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:54 pm
by Sloop John B
............ but what do you call the little gizmos that replace the cable and where can one buy them (and the classic audiophool question - are there differences?)


I hope I'm making sense, bit of a Noddy question I know...


SJB

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:50 pm
by rickmcinnis
Well, I would agree.

There is no place for USB in a serious audio device.

It is handy, though. Useless for audio.

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:31 pm
by Sloop John B
Oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstood!

I'm looking for the name of the little gadget that will connect a USB source to a USB DAC that isn't an actual cable, a connector but googling that gets me nowhere.

SJB

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:42 pm
by Ken Moreland

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:20 pm
by Sloop John B
Ken Moreland wrote:Something like this perhaps? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-USB-Type- ... SwcdBWSaU8
That's the one, am I right in thinking that something like this would be preferable to a USB cable?

Are there any variations that allow for slight differences in height between source and DAC?

Anyone out there using these?

Any better or worse specimens from the sound quality perspective?


SJB

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 3:12 pm
by nige2000
Sloop John B wrote:
Ken Moreland wrote:Something like this perhaps? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-USB-Type- ... SwcdBWSaU8
That's the one, am I right in thinking that something like this would be preferable to a USB cable?

Are there any variations that allow for slight differences in height between source and DAC?

Anyone out there using these?

Any better or worse specimens from the sound quality perspective?


SJB
really its a can of worms
adapters are better than most/all cheaper cables

whats the budget?
diy?

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:28 pm
by Sloop John B
nige2000 wrote:
Sloop John B wrote:
Anyone out there using these?

Any better or worse specimens from the sound quality perspective?


SJB
really its a can of worms
adapters are better than most/all cheaper cables

whats the budget?
diy?

My ability at DIY is putting staples in a stapler, so we can safely rule that one out.

Budget? well the plan is.......

Hugo TT wending it's way to chez Sloop as we speak.
Current source is Roon through an SBT so this connection will have to be a cable.
If promise (or hype) lives up to expectation I'm considering a mucroRendu as the Roon source, this should allow adapter use rather than cable.
I'd probably spend E100 on a decent cable so I suppose it would make sense to have the same budget for an adapter (even though it sounds barmy to spend that much on such a thing).

Just doing a bit of forward planning, I know John Kenny mentioned the desirability of small or no cable for USB when I was demoing his USB/SPDIF converter.






SJB

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:45 pm
by Ken Moreland
It always amazes me that a connector costing 3€ and of dubious construction could equal or better a magnificently priced cable but there you go. I've never heard of any kind of Audiophile connector made from silver etc .

Interested to see you are awaiting a Hugo TT as I purchased one last week and it's a fine machine. For me it was able to eliminate the need for preamp (sold) and allow balanced connections to the power amp. I traded in my Hugo with Jim Moore HiFi in Newtownards. At the moment I'm listening through headphones but I expect to have speakers on Saturday! I'm using the adapter I linked to hook up Regen to Hugo TT.

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 10:58 pm
by nige2000
Ken Moreland wrote:It always amazes me that a connector costing 3€ and of dubious construction could equal or better a magnificently priced cable but there you go. I've never heard of any kind of Audiophile connector made from silver etc .

Interested to see you are awaiting a Hugo TT as I purchased one last week and it's a fine machine. For me it was able to eliminate the need for preamp (sold) and allow balanced connections to the power amp. I traded in my Hugo with Jim Moore HiFi in Newtownards. At the moment I'm listening through headphones but I expect to have speakers on Saturday! I'm using the adapter I linked to hook up Regen to Hugo TT.
ill be down to hear the new gear when your settled
whats the OYAIDE like?
is it a white black or green?

Re: The best USB cable is no USB cable.........

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:20 pm
by tony
nige2000 wrote:ill be down to hear the new gear when your settled
whats the OYAIDE like?
is it a white black or green?
What's this??? What happened here was Ken in Japan this week? Is there a new paradigm in USB cables??