Interesting video on cables

These are USB cables but I’m sure the principle applies to speaker and IC cabling.

No, not really.  This is geared more toward computer audio/video than USB as it’s used in more serious audio applications like sending a signal between a streamer and a DAC, and really nobody serious about audio is connecting to a computer at all.  And this really doesn’t have much to do with analog speaker and IC cables — it’s really just a different world and application altogether.  It’s an interesting video comparing Thunderbolt cables, but it doesn’t translate much to anything discussed on this site. 

Ok, Apple is NOT a cable company.  Period.  They’re a computer company that lightly dabbles a bit in making some cheap cables purely for computer purposes.  That’s it.  I used their Camera Adapter for a little bit to get music outta my iPhone/iPad to my DAC and it was a total joke — a toy — and I was able to trounce it for a few bucks more with a cable made by a real cable company that actually knows how to make a good cable for audio.  Apple’s cables are functional, but for pure audio purposes they’re awful, and since this is primarily an audio site some perspective seemed to be in order here.  Apple is a lot of things but a cable company they are not.  Not even close. 

Ok.  I get it.  It’s a process and a progression.  But don’t say things like this…

These are USB cables but I’m sure the principle applies to speaker and IC cabling.

because that’s not accurate and why I said something.  No good audio-purposed USB or any other audio cable is designed like this or anything like it — see below as one example, and note how even the power and data legs of the USB cable are physically separated and definitely no electronics built into the cable.  That aside, I wish you the best of luck in finding a streamer that really makes a difference for you because it’s definitely out there and worth the effort in finding it.

https://www.lavricables.com/cables/ultimate-silver-dual-usb-a-b-interconnect-cable/

Sorry man.  I feel like I’ve been a bit of a preachy jerk here.  I’m surprised you didn’t hear an appreciable improvement with the HiFi Rose streamer, but I’m also a huge believer in following and trusting your own ears and if you heard what you heard then that’s all that matters.  I might suggest trying something like this used Innuos Zen Mk3 that offers great performance and also comes with its excellent Sense app that some people even prefer over Roon.  If it doesn’t work out you can always sell it for little/no loss so very cheap to try.  Incidentally, not sure what Denafrips DAC you have but I have a Musician Pegasus that’s got some similar DNA and adding an Iris DDC and using the i2S connection was a big sonic improvement and maybe something to keep in mind as a potential upgrade going forward.  Anyway, FWIW. 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650041804-innuos-zen-mk3-streamer-black-roon-server/

I have considered purchasing the Gaia DDC for the IS2 connection to see where that takes things.

Nice DAC! I think that’s a great thought but not sure you need to go all the way to the Gaia. You could pick up a used Iris for $400 (that’s what I did) just to dip your toe in the water and can just turn around and sell it if you don’t get a meaningful performance bump. That was my plan, but after hearing it my Iris ain’t going anywhere. @vthokie83 did the same thing and he also has a Pontus ll and maybe he’ll chime in here with his impressions that were basically identical to mine. There’s also a Hermes available for $750 if you wanna kick it up a notch and/or can use the SPDIF input in addition to USB. Anyway, here they are just fyi…

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650042588-denafrips-iris-usb-digital-to-digital-converter/

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650042607-denafrips-hermes-digital-to-digital-converter/

Again, FWIW.

So many DDCs, so little time.  BTW, and if u don’t mind me asking, what’s the rest of the equipment, cables, etc. in ur system?

Nice!

Outside of all the measurements it comes down to what folks hear and in my system at least cables have made a difference.  There are many other folks here who would make the same claim.

Booyah!!!  Well said and goodonya!