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32 Feet USB : sound degradation issues, what next?

Due to limitations of my room, my desktop computer is across the room from my DAC.

My cheapo 4 feet USB cable gave me great sound, but once I added the 32 feet USB extension to it, the sound degrades significantly. Details are lost, sound is harsher, bass gets bloated.
It annoys me that digital cables (its binary data, come on!) has so much effect on the sound.

My question is do USB cables need a burn-in time ?
Or
Do I need to figure out a way to keep my USB cables down to a 3-4 feet ?

I have not seen any audiophile USB cables that are 20-30 feet long, if they exist, do you have any experience with them ?
essrand
8 responses Add your response
heyimderrick
19 posts
 
I'll probably get flamed for this, but have you tried Monoprice? http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=102&cp_id=10303

Get the heaviest gauge long-run available for your situation. I think the sound degradation is likely coming from using two cables with a connecting adapter. A single 32-foot run in a heavier gauge should eliminate those problems. I'm using Monoprice's heavy gauge silver-coated copper HDMI cables, and they are very nice, especially for the price.
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Skip the USB and go either bluetooth or wifi. I stream to my oppo without any issues from another room on another floor of the house.
USB has some voltage limitations. It's not just the version of USB. Many PC's will have some USB's with better voltage than others, ie the USB's in the back of my PC are stronger than the front. The manual even says this. I imagine that any USB will have limitations.
OR
Can you move the dac to the pc and run long interconnects?
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
USB cables should be 16 feet (5 meters) at the longest otherwise you need a hub to extend the length
riffer
362 posts
 
Like Philjolet said. Your cables are too long. Put a powered hub halfway and you should be good.
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
The link posted by HeyImDerrick is a good one, look at the 33 foot *active* USB cable that is found there. It will supposedly boost the signal for you over that long run. And you're only risking $8.30 to see if it works.

If it doesn't, you'll need to buy a *powered* USB hub which will have a built-in booster for the USB signal. These are also very inexpensive from MonoPrice...

-RW-
essrand OP
297 posts
 
Thanks guys. I will try the "active" USB cable and see ifit works, if not the powered USB hub.
If neither then will have to get a mac mini. sigh!
This hobby can get tiring sometimes :)
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
USB Sucks! Get a soundcard!
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
Essrand, also the USB cable itself affects the sound, generic cables can sound thin, at least that was my personal experience

fwiw
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