I am buying USB cable between PC and DAC. I am confused - Is it better USB cable with silver gold alloy conductor or with monocristal copper conductor ?
Not necessarily…. Depends entirely on your bespoke system and listening room acoustics…. and the only way to know is by your own hands-on audition and experimentation.
it may actually be worse ( too bright, too edgy, blah blah ..)
@akg_ca I tried to try Cardas Clear. I really did. Cable sent to me was defective. open. Returned it and went with AQ at same price point because I could get it next day delivery. Never looked back.
With PC as a source, get the least revealing cable. Decent copper USB cable should do just fine. Just pick one.
Invest in a streamer instead…PC is a bull 💩 streamer and you won’t be happy in a long run.
What a high end cable sounds like is a complex combination of factors far beyond just the composition of conductor. Really inexpensive ones will take on the characteristic of the metal used.
If you are looking for really high quality sound, then I have to recommend getting a dedicated streamer. PCs are not good sources. However, if you are happy with what you want and feel like tweaking… a good quality cable may help… like well shielded. I would look at Cardas. You have to try them.
I have tried about every combination of PC, MAC, iPad and moved to dedicated streamers.
I use an apple usb c cable from my pc which is a asus rampage v extreme edition 10 with a 6850k and using a Modious dac sounds okay and drives pretty loud
Recommend getting a dedicate streamer first, Bluesound Node (130 latest version) or iFi......either $600 or less, I use the Node. Get a reasonable USB cable, I highly recommend a Supra USB cable.
Check eBay for Supra USB cables and should find the 2.0 version for about $55, or better yet the Excalibur for about $140.....IMO the best value in USB cables....only buy from Zendada who is the official importer
Check out final touch audio , they use a special copper with naturally accruing silver and some specs ofGold in the metal and then pounded into thickness
it sounds very analog like and natural , Lampizator audio Carry them
the Callisto model look it up many excellent reviews.
“Don’t pay attention to those whose only answer is to buy a streamer. Using a PC with an audio only…..”
In a way this is true in that all streaming solutions are computers. Of course, the better sounding streamers isolate from Ethernet noise, minimize internal noise from the computer segment, have really precise clocks and galvanically isolate the USB. Some do not favor usb due to induced noise caused by the power within the cable itself. One big difference is the quality of the power supply.
On a more serious note, many vendors have a thirty or sixty day trial period. You can do the A/B test and decide what works best. The problem is that better usually requires more money and that curve is not linear.
Don’t pay attention to those whose only answer is to buy a streamer. Using a PC with an audio only purposed operating system works good, very good. A quality cable from a reputable brand is adequate and doesn’t have to be expensive, just keep it as short as possible. I’m calling BS on their BS.
Of course you can choose to have your opinion, backed by actual ownership experience or not. But do you really have to be nasty about other people’s opinions?
If you are not in a position to take step #1, then use a USB isolator to eliminate noise from your PC. You can use a generic USB cable between PC and USB Isolator and a high quality USB cable between Isolator and DAC.
Check out ZavfinoUSA, DH Labs or Supra for USB cables.
Another strong vote for streamer first. iFi Zen stream at $399 offers a lot of sound quality for the $$$ and not a bad way to start, then worry about a better USB cable.
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