If you want good quality HDMI with silver conductors, use hifishark to find some used PS Audio I2S-12 cables. I have two pairs and I wouldn’t give them up easily.
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To be fair, I got mine used on eBay for quite a bit less than they normally go for. I don’t see myself paying the list price, no sir. But it does sound better, sadly.
This is why I avoid listening to really expensive gear and cables. I know it will sound better but I cant voluntarily put myself through the torment of hearing it first hand.
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Yup. We all be bad. After listening to bunch of cables as recommended by this
esteemed group😬 I, too, ended up with the WW platinum. Your plan to audition
to budget friendly stuff only is a good one. Wish I had your discipline.
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By the way, I bought a fancy new USB cable from a new to me company out of India. Sadly, it was not very expensive. It sounds nice though and it’s two-headed. I was sad I needed both heads to make the DAC it’s hooked up to work. (I bought a Chord Qutest used on Audiogon cause it was priced low enough to catch me) (It sounds great, like I could live with this DAC Great. But then I switch to the DSD + Windom and great gets re-defined)
Anyway, cables.
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If you want to talk about cables, yes the WW Platinum is about the best you can get for I2s. It lets more information through than the Kimber HD 29, which was about the same as the WW Silver, which cost about the same, which is better than the stock PS Audio cable from the DMP. Unfortunately, the more you paid, the better the sound with very few exceptions.
I now just got hold of a USB cable from Parts Connexion. I heard about it in the Absolute Sound that you should not listen to it because you will have to get it if you do. They are right, it’s that good. It’s from Audience top of the line called Front Row. It’s $1300, but I got it for halve price, only $650. It made my Cardas Clear which was really good and cost $400, which I didn’t think could get any better sound a bit veiled. Just can’t get away from paying more for better sound.
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I’m having a lot of success with a USB cable from Phasure in Europe called the Lush2. The name is a give away. It’s not the highest resolving cable out there but it’s a good counter point against the WW HDMI cable.
That might be similar to the Cardas cables. They tend to sound a bit on the lush and sweet side of neutral. I’ve been using Cardas cables for many years and loved it. The Golden Reference being the later models. But lately I feel they were holding back on giving me the full spectrum of the sound that is available on a recording, so I’m venturing into more higher resolution cables. Unfortunately they can be quite costly. Everybody has their own taste in sound. I’m glad there are so many different great sounding cables for us to choose.
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Yeah, well I have a Wireworld SS USB cable that is a higher resolution that the Lush2 but I keep wanting to listen to the Lush2 whereas the WW SS USB makes me want to skip tracks 
Your system is probably tilted on the sharper side and a lusher cable balances it better. In my system, the higher resolution cable only makes whatever recording more of what it is. The lusher recording lusher and the sharper recordings sharper. It is more truthful. It doesn’t make bad recordings sound better by glossing over it. But on really good recordings, it really sounds incredible. The Cardas I had in the past makes almost everything sound pretty good. but I wasn’t getting the best of the really good recordings.
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Yes, I have been working to get a balance in my setup. I think I’m pushing the boundaries of how good I can get things given the listening room I’m stuck with.
Working on an N+ to Matrix USB shoot out over NOV/DEC. Just bought a WW PS 7 USB cable. Installed a Curious “evolved” USB cable 3 days ago. Cerious Cable is in the process of building me a custom “extreme” USB cable. Just ordered an SR Sigma USB cable from The Cable Company Library. Initially started w/ JMaxwell “data only” USB cable. By Christmas, winner takes all. In addition, isolating USB cable VCC with kapton tape over cable pins at each connector to make sure there is the same “data only” configuration during shoot out. The one mil thick, heat resistive, zero residual kapton tape will not damage pin spring resilience and contact impedance after shoot out.
Once the USB cable selection is complete, will be working a shoot out on my Matrix to DSD and DMP to DSD HDMI cables. WW Platinum and SR Sigma so far to go against my Nordost V2 and HT Magic HDMI. Presently using V2 for Matrix and Magic for DMP. Will need to compile a list for early 2020 shoot out. Love my V2 HDMI so this will be loads of fun…
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I got a deal on a 1M AQ Mocha HDMI Cable and replaced the PS 12 Silver HDMI I bought when I got my PWT. I immediately heard an improvement in bass - I thought it would require burn in/
Good tip and price. I just ordered the WW SS 7 HDMI from parts connexion. They only had the 1.0 M. I will trial it versus the WW Ultraviolet 0.6 M. Curious on what it may gain. I heard that there were plans for WW to roll out a SS 8 but keeps getting delayed. I have been really enjoying Ultraviolet HDMI which is different technology but similar conductor. Not at all veiled. Maybe the Platinum someday. Have plenty of other HDMI placements available for the loser cords in two channel audio.
@cardri, Can you throw the IN-AKUSTIK REFERENCE HIGH SPEED USB 2.0 in the mix? SGC sells I have been using bought based on reviews. I really like it for everything.
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@Vmax - absolutely, I assume it is in the same SQ bucket as WW PS 7, Curious “evolved”, Cerious “extreme”, Sigma, and JMaxwell. If not as good, then I would sell it at discounted price.
They seem similar in construction…
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Richard
You can also purchase the Inakustic from Small Green Computer.
@Cadri Andrew gives a 30 day trial on all his sales do if it doesn’t measure.
@dawkinsj - Jack - thanks, I figured out what @Vmax meant by SGC and now who Andrew is, assuming the owner. I like my USB cable as short as possible and my Matrix is right above my N+ so the 750cm USB seems right. That reference cable is copper, not silver, or silver plated so it will be interesting. No design data, just abstract language like amazing, unbelievable… The SGC website says that USB is the best they have tested with zero detail as to SQ or the other 20 USB cables they tested. Read like blah, blah, blah… it is the best according to us and we are experts…
I think I will give it a try… what the heck… I like how amazing that cable sounds without one technical or test data or why it is amazing… just trust us, it is better than 20 other cables we tested with no data as to who, how, why, what…
@Vmax - yeah a 30day is definitely the only way I buy a cable with zero detail, even from the manufacturer… did you read that gobbledegook on the manufacturers website… Galen would have snapped at that description of design…
Extremely generously portioned for power supply… blah, blah, blah, not enough adjectives, honey toss me more superlatives… I’m laughing my butt off at that manufacturer’s information… just tooooooo funny… good thing copper wires are high speed conductors, like 180,000 miles per second… damn - that’s faster than my Z06…
Forget - assume the $3500 cable was Nordost. You get a really nice box with the Nordost cable… I prefer plastic bag with amazing cable versus average cable in a jewel encrusted box…
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I think the SMG people will be easier to deal with too since the other dealer is in Toronto.