Solo streamer

@audphile1 

Thank you for the recommendations.  I’m considering the Audience.  
Do I need an A-B or A-C connection?   

For some reason The Music Room has the 2m A-C for half price.

+1, FTA Sinope USB. Audience Studio One is better than majority of USB’s out there and Audience makes good cables but Sinope is on another level. 

@audphile1 

I recommend you give FTA Sinope USB a shot…FTA’s tonal saturation, smoothness and texture is simply amazing. If I ever go back to USB, this would be my first choice. 

@rvpiano

Becoming very underwhelmed with the Shunyata USB cable. For the money spent I would have expected at least some improvement.

Hopefully your dealer offered a trial period like your player.

In Shunyata’s defense, this was a Gamma, which is Shunyata’s entry level USB cable at "just" $350. Given that the stock Aurender USB is a $100 cable, it is not much of a jump. I have read some glowing reports about their high end Omega digital cables, but how much does one want to spend? I offer no USB help, as my streamer/player optimizes AES connection over USB.

But if you have a large budget, based on my favourite reviewers recommendations, Christiaan at Hi Fi Advice, the Mad Scientist Prime USB has replaced the Final Touch Sinope as his preferred USB cable. Good review to read, as Christiaan’s reviews usually are, as he explains well the sound differences between other products, but he also quotes some of the recent advancements in USB cables development from Mad Scientists’ point of view. I think Mad Scientist offers a trial period, but I couldn’t find it quickly enough on their "odd" website.

Mad Scientist Prime USB review

@rvpiano  You need A-B. 

@lalitk ​​​​@mclinnguy thanks for the recommendation. 
By the way Audience has two more USB cables up from StudioOne. The FrontRow and FtontRow Reserve silver cable. Those are more in line with FTA Sinope price wise. 

@mclinnguy

The USB cables in discussion are all exemplary and their virtues further revealed in audio system that are capable or equally exemplary. No offense to OP system but Christiaan audio system at Hi Fi Advice is several leagues above OP’s system.

@audphile1

I am very familiar with Audience line of cables due to my long history with the brand. My recommendation would be to try Sinope, whenever you’re ready to step-up.

@lalitk Definitely will give it a try. Had a bit of a chaotic couple of months with selling separates, getting integrated amps and doing a shootout, changing DACs. Settling down gradually. It will be a few months before I get to USB though. Don’t want to make any cable changes until I settle on the next DAC. 

“Don’t want to make any cable changes until I settle on the next DAC.”

@audphile1  

That makes complete sense!  

I completely agree with @lalitk.   
The suggested cables are way over my system level and price range.  
I think I’ll just return the Shunyata and stick with the stock.

@rvpiano check TMR periodically. They have used and demo Audience cables pretty frequently.

It’s always prudent to pick the lowest hanging fruit first.

I have not had any luck with low end Shunyata cords. I have not extensively tested different ones. But the lower tiers were no better than stock or basic. I’m sure upper tier are great. 

@rvpiano 

Not sure if it’s been already asked, what brand of cables you’re using in rest of the system?

More specifically, DAC ➡️ Pre ➡️ Amp ➡️ Spealers and Power Cords. 

Mostly high level Morrow interconnects, Audioquest power chords, Robin Hood speaker cables.

@rvpiano  If you still want to try a good USB cable and not pay a ton of money for it, DH Labs Mirage is very good. Upscale carries the line so that’s a risk free trial with their return policy. I used this cable and liked it. It’s worth comparing to stock USB to see if you like it better. DH Labs cables are great value for the money. 
https://upscaleaudio.com/products/dh-labs-mirage-usb-cable

@rvpiano

You seem to like AQ cables, why not try one of their USB’s like Coffee, 

https://www.audioquest.com/products/coffee-usb-a-b-digital-audio-cable

Thanks for the recommendations but I  think I’m going to stick with the stock cable.  The set is sounding good as it is.

@rvpiano 👍

@rvpiano 

I concur with @audphile1 advise. All you need a well constructed USB cable. Both DH Labs or Zavfino are reasonably priced and good bang for the buck! 

If you choose to get one of these cables, just plugged it in and continuing listening to music and not focus on the cable. Give it 2-3 weeks and then swap back the stock cable and let us know your impressions.

@lalitk

As I’ve indicated, I think I’m through experimenting.
The set is sounding so good lately with the Shunyata, I might  
even hold on to it.

@rvpiano what works for me is few days of relaxed listening using one cable. Make mental notes. Let it sink in. Then switch cables and do few more days of listening to the same tracks. It’s never a good idea to do a quick a/b. It’s a sure way of making a mistake.