USB cable recommendations

@signaforce 

No direct experience with Audiomica brand of cables. Honestly, I didn’t feel the need to experiment further after hearing FTA USB and Ethernet cables. 

My system is voiced around relaxation, emotional involvement, smooth midrange, and natural tone rather than hyper-analytical presentation. FTA USB and Ethernet cables consistently deliver on that priority. 

@signaforce I have not heard Audiomica cables.
And like @lalitk I do not like analytical presentation. 
 

@jc4659 I can only recommend you try Carbon. Between Tyr 2 and Carbon there is no clear winner. They’re different. I didn’t replace my Tyr 2 with Carbon but I can tell you I enjoyed more musical selections with Carbon than I do with Tyr 2. 
In example I listened to a ton of Led Zeppelin with Carbon. I don’t do that with Tyr 2. Carbon presents bigger size images in the soundstage, has slightly better layering and depth. Texture and body are more solid. Bass and dynamics are bigger. 
What it gives up to Tyr 2 is a slight bit of air in the vocals and I mean slight. Tyr 2 sounds lighter and faster but at the expense of image sizes and musicality. 
I still have Tyr 2 on my DAC and I’m honestly not sure what I will do there. I’ve been listening to more vinyl lately as that’s my newest set of toys. 
Also…consider the synergy I may have accomplished between Kimber interconnects and kimber power cords. Although Kimber power cords improved the sound of my system even with Tyr 2. 

Just make sure it’s a USB 3. 🙏

I recently purchased a DH Labs Mirage USB A to C cable to replace a quite good custom cable to connect my Innuous Stream 1 with Phoenix USB module (and LlPS1 power supply) to my Schiit Audio Gungnir 2 DAC > Silversmith fidelium balanced to Rogue Audio RP-7 preamp.  The improvement was immediately noticeable.  Better definition and tonal qualities of instruments; the sound stage was already quite good, so I did not notice any significant change there.  All in all, I feel it was a significant improvement at a modest expense, under $300.

@signaforce 

Several years ago, I connected my Windows 10 laptop to my (then) new DAC, via an Audioquest Diamond USB cable -- no regrets.

Just for kicks, I swapped it with a mass produced USB cable, and the sound quality went from wonderful to unlistenable.  And that cable is used for my daily-driver computer’s USB hub.  No problems there.  But for connecting to my DAC it was horrible (likely due to transferring loads of noise).

The store where I purchased the Audioquest Diamond USB cable sold it to me at a deep discount.  I had bargaining power, because I was purchasing the DAC from them.  Apparently, there is a huge mark-up on the cable.  I think that I got 50% off (hard to remember).

I also had peace-of-mind, knowing that I was getting a genuine Audioquest cable (not an Amazon or eBay, etc, possibly counterfeit cable).

Note that Audioquest does use China, in part, for manufacturing many of its cables.  But Audioquest ensures that whether manufactured in the USA or in China, the completed cables meet the same build specifications and quality control procedures.

I wish that I could audition other quality USB cables.  But I have no one to loan me any.  Supposedly the Shunyata Research Sigma-X and Omega-X cables are top-tier (with a price to match).  But I never heard one.

When I recently added a Berkeley Audio Design, Alpha USB Series 2 re-clocker, between my laptop and my DAC, the store (not the one where I purchased my DAC and my Audioquest Diamond USB cable) personnel asked me which USB cable I was using (they sold Shunyata Research products).  When I told them that I had the Audioquest Diamond USB cable, they said that I am in good shape, and did not try to sell me a replacement USB cable.  That confirmed that they respected that Audioquest Diamond USB cable.