First I heard of usb cable incompatibility, didn't think it possible.
Buyer Beware
This is my first post on Audiogon Forum but I have been a audiophile for almost fifty years. I like to buy and sell used equipment because it gives a chance to try a much wider range of products. Recently I wanted to try different USB cables and in that process I purchased two products from Mad Scientist Audio. One was their Black Magic and the other was the Ultra version. Both were purchased used from different sellers. I own two systems and decided to keep both. In both systems I use a AMR DP-777SE dac. In the system using the standard Black Magic USB the system was not using the built in volume control. About 2 month after purchasing the cable I tried using the internal volume control in the dac and it only worked at full volume. Thinking the dac was faulty I sent it back to TMR (great company) for evaluation. They tested it for 2 weeks in every configuration possible and determined it was working as it should. When i got the unit back (after a cost of approx. $200) I determined that the problem was the Black Magic USB cable. I contacted Bob at Mad Scientist Audio by email multiple times and he replied that his cable is incompatible with 1 in 50 produces and mine must be the 1. I then tried it in two other systems and also had the same results. Either the volume control didn't work or I would get cracking noises. after many emails back and forth Bob would not exchange the cable for a working one and only offered to sell me a Ultra cable at a discount. I don't know what his profit margin or warranty policy is but I have never experienced this especially with a cable manufacture, I offered to send it back to him so that he could access the problem but in the end his last email read "Therefore I don't think it's worth you wasting anymore money trying to fix or exchange your cable." Very disappointing. The cable is now in the trash. I know that this is a small boutique manufacture but with the controversy regarding cable costs and if expensive cable are necessary I thought that buy telling my story maybe it would alleviate this situation with this company.
Showing 6 responses by sns
I now recall the issue, believe some custom usb cable made without power pin being wired up. Some equipment requires power from upstream component. Some others require only the 'handshake', need to have power pin on initial powering up, then goes to internal power. Whenever someone sells one of these cables either new or used they should notify to buyer. Most cables come with power pin wired up, we just tape if off within connector if not needed. Some also come with dedicated and/or separate power run that runs outside main swath of cable. |
Taking perspective of manufacturer. Based on the fact the Black Magic worked in another system, this proves the cable NOT defective. Based on my idea that at least handshake required for proper operation he'd have to modify your cable with power pin wired in order to make it work with all your setups. I can understand his not wanting to cover cost of shipping and modifying cable, as far as I can see he is not responsible in any way. You purchased used cable without understanding this issue, I'd be talking to seller in this case, if they didn't notify you of this situation prior to purchase they are the responsible party. |
This what you stated, "In the system using the standard Black Magic USB the system was not using the built in volume control. About 2 month after purchasing the cable I tried using the internal volume control in the dac and it only worked at full volume."
From this it seems you did indeed use this cable when not using built in volume control and had no complaints. Now after 2 months you try using built in volume control and now only plays at full volume. What am I missing? |
@sdorfman58 The only thing at issue is you've not been clear about use of the one Black Magic cable. In your original post you seem to state it worked for two months then suddenly stopped working when you decided to use volume control. This makes all the difference as to whether cable defective or not. Casting false aspersions on cable maker not warranted if cable is not defective.
@mitch2 This seems correct, if it was handshake issue dac would have not worked with or without dac volume control. |