Help with RAL USB cable


Dear All,
I need some help on Revelation Audio Labs Reference DualConduit USB cable. I'm using it with DAC (Bryston BDA-3).

I had hard time to make it work: none of the ports on my PC seemed to provide connectivity between the DAC and the PC. After more than 2 hours of trying different combinations and angles I finally had connectivity. Needless to say, it sounds amazing.

I contacted the vendor (True Audiophile) asking if something may be wrong with the cable. My expectation was not to find such a finicky alignment between cable and USB ports with everything in a perfect angle to make it work.

The vendor contacted RAL (Brad Vojtech) who said that is the actual expectation and nothing is wrong with the cable.

Did anybody in the audiogon community face similar challenges? Should I expect signal conduit to work only on one single port in my PC and only in a very specific angle? This seems very unstable, not sure there is anything I can do to make it more reliable (e.g. with a support of some sort).

I'm considering returning it. What could be another USB cable with similar sound quality?

Please let me know your comments, thank you!

Thanks,
Fabrizio
fabrizioinguglia
The issue with this cable is probably that the USB plug case (ie the material around the USB connector) is bigger than the USB standard and will not fit deeply enough into a case cut out that is USB spec. I had exactly the same issues with RAL fire wire cables. They’re great cables but sometimes there’s just not compatibility with your gear. You may think it’s in the socket but the plug has not seated deeply enough and even when it does work you are likely not getting a robust connection.

One option might be to remove the case on your component and open it up or return the cable and buy another but make sure to look for one with a small plug shell!