Is a Monoprice USB cable fine or do I need to spend $100+?

[alfa147x]

the USB cables matter as it reduces jitter due to the noise inherent in electrical circuits. Do you want to go on on this? You are going off topic again.

And $100 USB cable is cheap. They go up to about a grand, for a short one.

I currently use a monoprice USB cable to connect my iPad to my DAC or my computer. So does a $100+ USB cable reduce jutter?

 

[Drako]

I currently use a monoprice USB cable to connect my iPad to my DAC or my computer. So does a $100+ USB cable reduce jutter?

WTH - $100 for a USB cable?

 

[rdb4133]

Yes it must be a $100+ Monster USB Cable.....

 

[happyboy]

Please don't spend so much on a USB cable. That's just pathetic. Monoprice's product might be cheap, but don't be fooled about their quality, it's actually not bad.

 

[Sheep]

I sincerely hope the poster you quoted was kidding. While there may be quality differences in ultra-cheap USB cables, the rest of that post was pure bullshit.

 

[sdifox]

buy me 20 share of vivithemage lotto pool and I'll send you a usb cable that performs as well as the 100 dollar one.

 

[alfa147x]

So I'll stick to thinking that most USB cables don't need an upgrade to some fancy pair.

I sincerely hope the poster you quoted was kidding. While there may be quality differences in ultra-cheap USB cables, the rest of that post was pure bullshit.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2225261&highlight=

Go through that. Instead of taking his MacBook Pro to an Apple store where they would have replaced it with a working model he ended up buying a DAC and Amp just to solve the issue. With a fancy USB cable...

 

[mshan]

I think you might be better off getting something like this (http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-D1).

USB doesn't seem to be as good as coaxial digital from some comments I've read in various audio reviews (could just be than USB digital out is not well developed and mature technology yet), but that Audio Engine D1 I think is supposed to sound better with cheap toslink cable than usb.

 

[jhansman]

No, do not use anything but name brand, overpriced, overrated cables. Anything else will retard your system and embarrass you in front of your in-the-know friends.

All my cabling comes from Monoprice.

 

[alfa147x]

I think you might be better off getting something like this (http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-D1).

USB doesn't seem to be as good as coaxial digital from some comments I've read in various audio reviews (could just be than USB digital out is not well developed and mature technology yet), but that Audio Engine D1 I think is supposed to sound better with cheap toslink cable than usb.

It all depends on how well built your onboard is. That said I use coaxial from my hackintosh to a Fire Stone bravo then coaxial to my dac (BIFROST) and optical to my surround sound receiver.

It's about a 7 - 8 ft run from my computer to 'audio station' I wonder if I use USB to the Bravo if that would make a difference.

I doubt it. I bet on paper I might but in actuality it won't sound any different.

 

[mshan]

If you want to dabble with premium usb cables, perhaps the Wireworld Ultraviolet?: http://www.gcaudio.com/cgi-bin/store/showProduct.cgi?id=539

They don't claim anything special other than better materials and tighter tolerances in manufacturing (edit: they actually do claim that their flat configuration is supposed to produce lower jitter, I think because all leads are more precisely the same length)

 

[mmntech]

Might as well hook it up via a 3.5mm to RCA hookup to your DAC if you don't like USB's audio quality. Though I doubt that will make any difference. Apple's line of touch products don't have the best DSPs and DACs in the world anyway.

You're a fool if you spend that much for a USB cable.

 

[alfa147x]

Might as well hook it up via a 3.5mm to RCA hookup to your DAC if you don't like USB's audio quality. Though I doubt that will make any difference. Apple's line of touch products don't have the best DSPs and DACs in the world anyway.

You're a fool if you spend that much for a USB cable.

You might want to read this:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=33221327&postcount=7

and this:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=33207343&postcount=10