@audphile1 Thanks. Now that cord is recommended for the streamer? Do you think it can perform well with my DAC?
USB cable recommendations
I recently purchased the Bricasti M3 for my system & am looking to upgrade my A-B USB cable. I currently have 2 USB cables that I used with my prior DAC (Qutest), a Cardas Clear that I preferred with my Qutest & an XLO ultra plus that I far prefer with my M3. It is OCC copper & actually sounds very good, but wondering if I can do better.
My target price is around $500 used, certainly willing to do less & willing to do more for the ’right’ cable. I am looking for a cable that is absolutely neutral.
I actually tried to buy an AQ diamond used yesterday, but was 2 hours late. Not sure if it was the right choice, but it was a great price & could resell if not right.
My virtual system is available, but my digital side is: Aurender N150 > XLO ultra+ > Bricasti M3 > Zavfino Arcadia > PSAudio BHK w/tele medical NOS tubes > Zavfino Fusion mk2 > SimAudio Moon 330A > Transparent + gen 5 > KEF Reference 3’s.
Please let me know your thoughts and/or recommendations. Thanks!
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@danmar123 yes it should be nice on both. I use it on my Meitner MA3i. |
@danmar123 i have a Stream1 with the separate USB Phoenix reclocker in my dining room system (also with an LTA Aero, and a Coda CSib v2 integrated with JA Perspective Graphene speakers). The Aero is happy with the USB feed in that set up. LTA does say that the Aero is designed to excel with either USB or SPIDF, and to my ears, that has been essentially true. I use an LTA LPS+ for the Stream1. That seemed to help a bit; not a night & day difference. My USB on that is Veritas Audax from Phoenix to Aero and DH Labs Mirage from Stream1 to Phoenix. Not surprisingly, that performs better (especially in terms of PRAT) than the stock Innuos cable and a TODN. @fthompson251 when i had the N200, i tried both USB and coax/spidf. I preferred SPIDF slightly. With the N20, i have not tried USB, but if you believe Aurender (and various commenters), you would not expect USB to be better. I’ll say, though, beyond the better clock, the N20 has the better power supply and overall construction, and that does improve soundstage and noise floor. Presumably, those benefits would still be present via USB. In any event the improvement is noticeable, but by no means major. The N200 is a reality fine streamer and very synergistic with the Aero. (Finding tubes whose sound I liked was a bigger improvement than the move from N200 to N20, but the combined effect of the two is really, really nice.) |
@kirkwallace I have the Audience Front Row USB & the XLR’s in my setup. Very happy with my WIMM Utra. I’m sure the Pulsar will be a huge step forward, & with @audphile1 power cord suggestion, I can put this to bed. (rabbit hole) |
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